Sankwasa criticised over Uukolonkadhi chieftaincy

Urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa is under fire after initially approving one of the Uukolonkadhi chieftaincy claimants as chief before later ordering an investigation into the matter.

In a letter dated 9 January, Sankwasa informs the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority chairperson, Andreas Amunyela, that an application to designate Malakia Shoombe as Uukolonkadhi chief has been approved.

In his letter, Sankwasa says the approval was granted after a consultative meeting held from 30 September to 1 October last year with Shoombe and his nephew, fellow chieftaincy claimant Johannes Asino.

According to the minister’s letter, the meeting was also attended by Uukwambi chief Herman Iipumbu and Ondonga chief Fillemon Nangolo. The meeting took place at Outapi.

The minister further instructed the council to proceed with the official designation of Shoombe.

“You are also required to give, in writing, prior notification to the minister of the date, time and place in question, to enable him or his representative to attend and witness the official designation of the chief,” Sankwasa writes.

However, less than a month later, Sankwasa appeared to have reversed course.

In a second letter dated 5 February and also addressed to Amunyela, the minister says he would appoint an investigation committee to probe the dispute surrounding the Uukolonkadhi chieftaincy succession.

Amunyela on Monday confirmed to The Namibian that Shoombe had been scheduled to be crowned chief on 28 March this year, but the ceremony has since been halted.

“We don’t know when the coronation will take place as the minister has informed us to wait,” he said.

The dispute has drawn legal attention after lawyers representing Asino, Afrika Jantjies and Associates, wrote to the Office of the Attorney General of Namibia questioning whether the proper legal procedures had been followed.

In the correspondence, the attorney general’s office indicates that the minister had not received an application from the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority in terms of the Traditional Authorities Act.

“Following the minister’s consultative meeting with the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority held from 30 September to 1 October 2025, there appears to be a dispute which remains unresolved regarding the nomination of the next chief in line for succession,” the letter states.

According to the communication, the traditional authority had not submitted an application as required under section 5(1)(b) of the act.

The minister has also not approved any such application or advised the president regarding the matter.

Furthermore, the letter states that the minister had not received a written petition signed by the disputing parties outlining the nature of the dispute, as required under section 12 of the act.

Sankwasa told The Namibian on Tuesday that his 9 January letter was withdrawn.

“That letter was withdrawn and an investigation is to be conducted.

I am going to appoint a committee; there is no issue there,” Sankwasa said. Asked when he will appoint the committee, Sankwasa said: “I will appoint a committee as my programme dictates.”

The leadership of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority has been marred by internal disagreements within the royal family over who should succeed the late chief Daniel Shooya.

Shooya died in October 2024.

Asino told The Namibian in January this year that the late chief personally nominated him as his successor during a meeting in 2007, and again reaffirmed the decision in October 2020 due to his advancing age.

He said because he was employed at the time, he suggested that Shoombe act as chief temporarily. Shoombe had served as Shooya’s secretary since 1996.

He claims the late chief never formally named Shoombe as successor.

Asino further alleged that before Shooya’s burial, Shoombe attempted to persuade him to publicly announce that Shoombe would take over as chief, a request he said he refused.

According to Asino, tensions escalated in December 2024 when Shoombe invited him to a family meeting without disclosing the agenda.

He later learned that the discussion involved both the late chief’s firearms and the succession of the chieftaincy.

On 25 December 2024, Shoombe allegedly informed him that the meeting had resolved that Shoombe should assume the chieftaincy, claiming Asino was unwilling to take up the position.

Another meeting held in January reportedly established a committee tasked with introducing Shoombe as the incoming chief to the senior traditional council.

He also rejected a proposal by Shoombe that he serve as chief for five years before handing over the role.

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