Tribal coalition between //Haboben and Kharo!Oan Nama tribes collapses

The coalition between the Kharo!Oan and //Haboben Nama tribes under the leadership of the Blouwes Traditional Authority crumbled over the weekend due to an incessant wrangle over chieftainship succession.

Troubled by leadership struggle since the death of late Captain Hans Titus in 2007, Gertze was elected during an election in August last year that was shrouded in controversy. Local Government Minister, Jerry Ekandjo, approved Gertze as designated Chief of Blouwes traditional Authority in October the same year.However, the minister advised the //Haboben community not to go ahead with Gertze’s inauguration until a leadership dispute between the //Haboben and Kharo!0an communities was solved amicable. Despite the Ekandjo’s directive, the //Haboben community inaugurated Gertze as their tribal new leader on Saturday, signaling an end to the tribal coalition under BTA leadership in existence since 1994. A section of //Haboben community including the tribe’s royal house descendants boycotted Saturday’s ceremony to express their objection. . Earlier the //Haboben spokesperson, Fritz Daniel Hendricks, publicly objected to Gertze’s inauguration, claiming he has no hereditary right to the throne. In his inaugural message, Captain Gertze stressed that the //Haboben tribe ‘is not a coalition,’ adding it is legitimate clan in its own right and deserve to have its own leadership. Alluding to government’s reluctance to gazette him as recognised tribal leader, Gertze remarked: ‘ I find it immaterial and immature that people should easily talk about my being gazetted or not. It’s not about me, it’s about the choice of the people whose forefathers have contributed through their life and subsequently have guaranteed the birth of a new Namibia. We have contributed’.’For the record, I am coming from a generation of leaders who were not showered with allowances and other fringe benefits, who were elected to serve with no pay, no benefits,’ he added. He noted the inclusion of the //Haboben community by government in its developments plans is an democratic right their entitled to and not a ‘privilege or either a favour’.Gertze urged unity among his people, adding that disunity will economically and socially destroy and rob from the //Haboben community the little they have. ‘We may differ in the way we see things, but amongst all let us remain united,’ he implored the folk. No prominent government political office bearers were present at the ceremony.

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