THE Ondonga and Oukwanyama traditional authorities nearly came to blows last weekend over who is the legitimate authority in the Ekoka District in the eastern Ohangwena Region.
The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority and its people at Ekoka village prevented the Ondonga Traditional Authority from inaugurating Tileinge Wapulile as Senior Headman on Saturday. A large number of Ondonga people had gathered for the festivities, but before the ceremony could begin, some Oshikwanyama-speaking people at the village went on a rampage, armed with bows and arrows and other traditional weapons.They ordered the Ondonga people to stop the ceremony, saying that Ekoka did not belong to them.In an interview with The Namibian, the Secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Isack Mbeeli, claimed that the Oukwanyama traditional leaders were instigating the Ekoka villagers to attack the Ondonga people.However, the Oukwanyama leaders denied this.They said they were trying to calm down the angry villagers to prevent them from harming the Ondonga.The Chairman of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, Senior Traditional Councillor Victor Weyulu, told The Namibian that the Ondonga Traditional Authority had acted irresponsibly by trying to install a senior headman at Ekoka village without informing them about the move.”The move was a surprise and stunned us, because Ekoka belongs to the Oukwanyama traditional authority and not to the Ondonga traditional authority,” tatekulu Weyulu said.According to the Senior Traditional Councillor of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Boas Mweendeleli, the dispute over the tribal borders between the Ondonga and Oukwanyama goes back a long way.He says the dispute was discussed in the early 1990s with the then Northern Commissioner, Brian Simataa.It was again discussed with President Sam Nujoma in Oshakati earlier this year.At this meeting, he says, King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas of the Ondonga and King Kornelius Mwetupunga Shelungu of the Oukwanyama signed an agreement that the current borders between the two tribes must be respected and kept as they are.”If this is then the case, Ekoka village is in Ondonga area and therefore falling under the Ondonga Traditional authority,” Mweendeleli said.The Ondonga Traditional Authority intends to go ahead with the inauguration of a senior headman at Ekoka, at a date to be decided this weekendA large number of Ondonga people had gathered for the festivities, but before the ceremony could begin, some Oshikwanyama-speaking people at the village went on a rampage, armed with bows and arrows and other traditional weapons.They ordered the Ondonga people to stop the ceremony, saying that Ekoka did not belong to them.In an interview with The Namibian, the Secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Isack Mbeeli, claimed that the Oukwanyama traditional leaders were instigating the Ekoka villagers to attack the Ondonga people.However, the Oukwanyama leaders denied this.They said they were trying to calm down the angry villagers to prevent them from harming the Ondonga.The Chairman of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, Senior Traditional Councillor Victor Weyulu, told The Namibian that the Ondonga Traditional Authority had acted irresponsibly by trying to install a senior headman at Ekoka village without informing them about the move.”The move was a surprise and stunned us, because Ekoka belongs to the Oukwanyama traditional authority and not to the Ondonga traditional authority,” tatekulu Weyulu said.According to the Senior Traditional Councillor of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Boas Mweendeleli, the dispute over the tribal borders between the Ondonga and Oukwanyama goes back a long way.He says the dispute was discussed in the early 1990s with the then Northern Commissioner, Brian Simataa.It was again discussed with President Sam Nujoma in Oshakati earlier this year.At this meeting, he says, King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas of the Ondonga and King Kornelius Mwetupunga Shelungu of the Oukwanyama signed an agreement that the current borders between the two tribes must be respected and kept as they are.”If this is then the case, Ekoka village is in Ondonga area and therefore falling under the Ondonga Traditional authority,” Mweendeleli said.The Ondonga Traditional Authority intends to go ahead with the inauguration of a senior headman at Ekoka, at a date to be decided this weekend
