THE division among two factions of the Ovambanderu community about a chieftaincy succession reached another dimension over the weekend, when a High Court Judge granted an interdict on Friday night, preventing one group from meeting at the Epukiro tribal headquarters.
Justice Louis Muller ordered that Police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga should evict anyone other than the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (OTA), to which the headquarters 40 kilometres east of Epukiro in the Omaheke Region belong, from the premises.Senior Counsel Theo Frank, instructed by Saima Nambinga of Lorentz Angula law firm, brought the urgent application before Justice Muller around 20h00 on Friday night.However, the respondents, the late Chief’s younger son Keharanjo Nguvauva and the OTA’s Senior Traditional Councillor Erastus Kahuure, said they would challenge the court interdict. Kahuure supports Keharanjo’s claim to the chieftaincy and leads his followers, called the Concerned Group.’The return date for this matter is July 2 and we have decided to challenge this high court order,’ Keharanjo Nguvauva told reporters late Saturday at Pos Drie, a tiny settlement some 40 kilometres east of the Epukiro Roman Catholic mission station. Keharanjo and his supporters met on an open space just a stone’s throw from the OTA headquarters. Police were present, but kept their distance. Several representatives of the OTA – supporters of Keharanjo’s older half-brother Kilus – also ‘guarded’ the building.The Kilus group, which has the backing of the OTA, a week ago said the holding of an election for the chieftaincy was ‘divisive, cumbersome and costly’ and would not finally resolve the dispute. ‘Customarily, it is a very difficult proposition to sell to the community,’ the OTA said in a statement on June 12.’What is of great concern is the development of a voters’ roll, identification of the relevant Ovambanderu, specifically those under the traditional authority, a credible body or office to oversee and coordinate the election and endorsement of the election outcome by both parties,’ the OTA added.’How can it be determined for the election who is a Herero and who is a Mbanderu since we are all of the same origin?’ community members told The Namibian Saturday. Just before June 12 Police Chief Ndeitunga held a meeting with both group leaders after it had become known that they wanted to hold the annual Ovambanderu Day, which is on June 12 at Pos Drie, but separately. Ndeitunga convinced the Keharanjo group to hold their event on 19 June. The Kilus group did so on June 12.Both Keharanjo and his older half brother Kilus, who is the Deputy Fisheries Minister are embroiled in a bitter succession dispute after their father, Chief Munjuku Nguvauva died in January 2008. Just eight months later, Councillor Kahuure, inaugurated the then 22-year-old young man as the new chief according to traditional rites and customs. The Kilus group claims that the late chief had left a letter, allegedly declaring that Kilus should succeed him. The widow – mother of Keharanjo – and Kahuure had said they never knew of such a letter. Keharanjo has applied for official Government recognition at the Ministry of Local and Regional Government. The Kilus group had declared a dispute according to the Traditional Authorities Act. The Ministry appointed a commission of enquiry last year, which found that indeed Keharanjo should be the rightful heir to succeed his father. Local and Regional Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo sent a letter to both factions in December 2009 informing them about the outcome of the commission. The Kilus supporters rejected the findings. Last month Local and Regional Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo sent a letter to both groups, making a sudden U-turn and proposing an election to the community. This was also rejected by the Kilus group. On Saturday, Keharanjo said there were two options, ‘to either hold elections or to take Government to talk [about the sudden U-turn].’’In general we are not saying no to elections but we need to consult [more] and today we have not yet taken a position, but in due course we will inform the media about our decision,’ the young chief said.’Elections have their own legal implications and complications, these need technical consultations what to do,’ he added.Before the succession dispute erupted, the Ovambanderu community became already divided several years ago when a new customary constitution was drafted, which many members disagreed with.Kahuure, a Keharanjo supporter, who leads the so-called Concerned Group, challenged the new tribal constitution of the OTA in the courts, but lost.
