Traditional authorities support village split

A DECISION that the Edimba section of Ohaihana village in the Ohangwena Region should be separated from Ohaihana and be a village on its own should be respected and implemented, a spokesperson for the eight traditional authorities in the northern regions said yesterday.

Boas Mweendeleli told The Namibian that this decision was made by a meeting of the eight traditional authorities in the North held at Oshakati in 2005. Mweendeleli said it was agreed at the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, that Edimba qualifies to be a village on its own as there is a clear line of demarcation between it and Ohaihana.”At the moment Edimba is even growing,” said Mweendeleli.He was responding to a statement by the Ohaihana headwoman Ester Kavela that cutting off Edimba from Ohaihana was wrong, as Edimba had been part and parcel of Ohaihana all along.”The village is not being taken away from her, but it is just Edimba that is to be made a village on its own,” Mweendeleli, who is a senior headman in the Ondonga Traditional Authority, told The Namibian.But Ohangwena Governor Usko Nghaamwa has different views on the matter.Ngaamwa said while he wants the matter to be resolved by the local traditional authorities, he will seek a meeting with Kavela as there have been reports of threats made against her.”It seems there is some unfairness [against] her,” said Nghaamwa.Last week, Kavela alleged that a group of residents of Ohaihana village had started a “war” aimed at cutting off Edimba from Ohaihana, because they do not want to live in a village led by a woman.Kavela inherited Ohaihana village from her late husband, Vilho Kavela, in 1997.She said was living in fear because threats were being made against her and her supporters.Mweendeleli said it was agreed at the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, that Edimba qualifies to be a village on its own as there is a clear line of demarcation between it and Ohaihana.”At the moment Edimba is even growing,” said Mweendeleli.He was responding to a statement by the Ohaihana headwoman Ester Kavela that cutting off Edimba from Ohaihana was wrong, as Edimba had been part and parcel of Ohaihana all along.”The village is not being taken away from her, but it is just Edimba that is to be made a village on its own,” Mweendeleli, who is a senior headman in the Ondonga Traditional Authority, told The Namibian.But Ohangwena Governor Usko Nghaamwa has different views on the matter.Ngaamwa said while he wants the matter to be resolved by the local traditional authorities, he will seek a meeting with Kavela as there have been reports of threats made against her.”It seems there is some unfairness [against] her,” said Nghaamwa.Last week, Kavela alleged that a group of residents of Ohaihana village had started a “war” aimed at cutting off Edimba from Ohaihana, because they do not want to live in a village led by a woman.Kavela inherited Ohaihana village from her late husband, Vilho Kavela, in 1997.She said was living in fear because threats were being made against her and her supporters.