Riruako visit not recognition as paramount chief – Presidency

The Presidency says any interpretation suggesting that Hoze Riruako was recognised as paramount chief of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority during his visit to State House is incorrect.

Presidency spokesperson Jonas Mbambo said this on Friday following Riruako’s visit to State House last Thursday, where he met president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to discuss land matters and the 1904-1908 genocide.

“The meeting between the president and Riruako should not be interpreted as a recognition of any individual as paramount chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority.

Riruako had requested an audience with the president as far back as last year and the opportunity to meet only recently presented itself,” Mbambo said.

The Presidency sent out a media invite on Wednesday stating that the president would receive a courtesy visit from “Hoze Riruako, chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority”.

The Ovaherero Traditional Authority chief is generally considered to hold the seat of the paramount chief.

Mbambo added that, like any other Namibian, Riruako has the right to request an audience with the head of state and such engagements are not unusual.

Despite the traditional authority being recognised by the government, it still remains without a recognised paramount chief due to a dispute currently before the courts involving two factions – Riruako’s and Mutjinde Katjiua’s.

Mbambo said the executive cannot take decisions on issues that are still being adjudicated by the judiciary.

He said the final determination, therefore, rests with the courts, adding that Namibia operates under a clear separation of powers.

Analyst Kae Matundu says the government does not recognise the title “paramount chief”, as all traditional leaders are considered chiefs, despite the matter still being in dispute.

“The government has protocols. They cannot refer to someone as a so-called leader or a leader of one faction of the traditional authority.

You cannot invite someone and then refer to them in derogatory terms, it risks the invite not being honoured.”

Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah on Friday said the meeting between Riruako and Nandi-Ndaitwah can easily be interpreted politically,

particularly because the dispute over the leadership of the traditional authority is still before the courts.

However, he says a visit to the president does not necessarily mean formal recognition of one faction over the other.

“The Presidency often engages with different community leaders for consultation or dialogue. That said, such a meeting can still carry symbolic weight.

Supporters of Riruako’s faction may see it as a sign of political acknowledgment, while the Mutjinde (Katjiua) faction could view it as premature or potentially undermining the ongoing court process,” Kamwanyah said.

He said the legal process remains the decisive platform for determining the legitimate leadership of the traditional authority.

Another political analyst, Henning Melber, argues that it is noteworthy that one of the two competing traditional authority factions attended the meeting at State House.

“It is unclear if only the Riruako group was invited or both, and Katjiua’s faction did not attend.

It remains to be seen how Katjiua reacts,” Melber says.

Katjiua’s spokesperson, Itammunua Merero, yesterday said Katjiua is a proven leader of the community and the OvaHerero people respond in numbers when he calls upon them.

“He has inherited a fully functioning governance infrastructure from late paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro, which he consolidated.

He has the full support of all the chapter chiefs with the exception of Ombara Vipuira Kapuuo , who took the traditional authority to court,” Meroro said.

Riruako did not respond to questions sent to him.

However, after his meeting with the president Riruako, expressed concern over unrecognised traditional leaders, describing the matter as robbing them of their contributions and synergies.

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