Traditional chiefs to meet

THE annual conference of the Council of Traditional Leaders will start today, with over 80 traditional chiefs and senior councillors attending.

It is the tenth gathering since the Council of Traditional Authority Act was promulgated in 1997. President Hifikepunye Pohamba will be the keynote speaker at the opening.Topics on the agenda are the proposed establishment of a regional House of Traditional Chiefs with representatives of all 14 member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and applications by several chiefs for Government recognition.Applications were received from Herero chiefs, the Mureti and Ombandi royal houses, the !Xoo and #Kao//Aesi traditional chiefs.The ever-increasing applications of chiefs and tribal authorities for recognition will be discussed as well as the border dispute between the Mbunza and Sambyu traditional authorities in the Kavango Region.The Kambazembi and Maharero Royal Houses will table proposals to amend the Traditional Authorities Act and Chief Alfons Maharero will inform fellow chiefs about the issue of affected communities like Herero, Nama-Damara and San, who suffered under German colonial rule.The meeting ends on Friday afternoon.President Hifikepunye Pohamba will be the keynote speaker at the opening.Topics on the agenda are the proposed establishment of a regional House of Traditional Chiefs with representatives of all 14 member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and applications by several chiefs for Government recognition.Applications were received from Herero chiefs, the Mureti and Ombandi royal houses, the !Xoo and #Kao//Aesi traditional chiefs.The ever-increasing applications of chiefs and tribal authorities for recognition will be discussed as well as the border dispute between the Mbunza and Sambyu traditional authorities in the Kavango Region.The Kambazembi and Maharero Royal Houses will table proposals to amend the Traditional Authorities Act and Chief Alfons Maharero will inform fellow chiefs about the issue of affected communities like Herero, Nama-Damara and San, who suffered under German colonial rule.The meeting ends on Friday afternoon.