Vaalgras chief vows to fight on to retain chieftainship

CHIEF Joel Stephanus of the Vaalgras community, also known as the Nama speaking Hereros or Orlam, has vowed to fight on to retain the chieftainship despite threats by a disgruntled group to oust him.

Stephanus recently instituted a legal challenge against key protagonists and the concerned group who allegedly want to dethrone him and had asked the High Court to order the respondents to restore to him undisturbed and peaceful leadership as the Chief of the Vaalgras Traditional Authority. Stephanus also wants the Court to restrain the respondents from meddling in the leadership affairs and misleading the Vaalgras community. Judgement has been reserved in the latter matter. ‘The chieftainship wrangle that had been prevailing during the leadership reign of my father (late Chief Samuel Stephanus) has come back, but I will fight on until my death,’ said Stephanus in tears while laying a wreath on the grave of late Chief Samuel Stephanus during the community’s annual traditional festival gathering at Vaalgras on Sunday. The Vaalgras community annually commemorate the traditional festival to pay tribute their fallen heroes. In his call to those who disassociated themselves from his leadership, Stephanus remarked: ‘ Those who have left must come back, my doors are open. I have no grudges against anyone. I know all the children like my sheep because at the end we’re just a one big family’. Stephanus also wanted to know what he had done wrong to have caused the split within the community. ‘I want to know from you (community) what I have done wrong,’ Stephanus asked.’My sacrifices, respect and love towards the Vaalgras community is what you enjoy in a free Namibia,’ said Stephanus referring to the role he played in the liberation role as a tribal leader.Shortly after Stephanus had broke down in tears at his father’s grave, the Vaalgras Traditional Authority Secretary, Willem Konjore, called on the Vaalgras community to put aside their ‘misunderstandings’ and reconciled. ‘We mustn’t fight, but we must instead talk about our misunderstandings,’ said Konjore. luqman@namibian.com.na