Kuvee Kangueehi
8 October 2008
Windhoek — The installation of Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Kilus Nguvauva as paramount chief of the Ovambanderu Community has been put on hold indefinitely.
The reason is the community is still 'waiting for advice from the minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development.'
The inauguration was expected to take place on October 11 at Epukiro but the spokesperson of the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority Ngahahe Tjiposa said his faction has declared a dispute as provided for in the Traditional Authorities Act and wants the intervention of the minister.
Tjiposa said they have declared their dispute in the form of a written petition and are patiently waiting for the minister to pronounce himself on the matter.
'We will not force the Government to speed up their investigation as we are aware that the minister is very busy attending to other matters,' Tjiposa told New Era.
He said the authority proposed October 11 because it was on the same date that late Munjuku Nguvauva was appointed paramount chief in 1960.
"We are flexible and want to abide by the customary laws and the Traditional Authorities Act," he said.
He dismissed speculation that Kilus Nguvauva is no longer keen to be appointed paramount chief because he is trying to avoid an election, which will pit him against his younger brother Paramount Chief Keharanjo Nguvauva who was inaugurated in August.
Tjiposa said his faction has the support of the majority of the Ovambanderu community and if any election is held his faction will win.
He said his faction wants a chief that is recognized by Government and that will work with Government.
This is the second time that the inauguration of Kilus Nguvauva has been put on hold, having been put on hold in August after the minister sent letters to both factions to delay plans to install their respective chiefs on August 9 and 16.
But the faction led by Erastus Kahuure went ahead and installed Keharanjo Nguvauva as paramount chief of the Ovambanderu community.
Kilus Nguvauva, one of the late Chief Munjuku II Nguvauva's sons who died in January this year, was born out of wedlock, which - according to Ovambanderu norms and traditions - disqualifies him from taking over the chieftainship, according to some community members.
Kilus Nguvauva is also Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources and a member of the National Council.
The late chief's younger son Keharanjo II, born from his second marriage, is regarded by another faction as the legitimate heir to the Mbanderu chieftaincy, which dates back over 500 years.
The rift in the Ovambanderu community has widened. Some observers say it will take sometime before the two factions can reconcile and agree on a single chief.
The Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Jerry Ekandjo could not be reached for comment yesterday.
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