Katjiua faction tells Uutoni off, suspends Kapuuo
Jemima BeukesWINDHOEK
Rifts in the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) are deepening, with the faction headed by Professor Mutjinde Katjiua suspending Chief Vipura Kapuuo as chair of the Chiefs’ Council over weekend, while accusing minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni of interference.This follows a defeat in the High Court early this month in which Katjiua heard he has no locus standi to stop Kapuuo from handling the affairs of OTA as chairperson, as well as a decision by the ministry to impound the authority’s official vehicle.
The minister has also recently indicated that they will only deal with Kapuuo until such a time that a paramount chief is endorsed and elected as per the provisions of the Traditional Authority Act.
Kapuuo has been very clear that in terms of Ovaherero customary law, tradition and protocol, the chairperson of the Chiefs’ Council becomes the acting paramount chief of the Ovaherero traditional community upon the death or incapacitation of a Paramount Chief.
We won’t accept
Meanwhile, in a petition handed over yesterday, the Katjiua faction also demanded that government recognise a Chiefs’ Council meeting at Onderombapa where Katjiua was elected as Paramount Chief earlier this year, as well as last weekend’s Chiefs’ Council meeting where a vote of no confidence was passed against Kapuuo, who was subsequently suspended.
Last weekend’s meeting also resolved to establish a disciplinary committee comprised of traditional chiefs, amongst others, and set to be assisted by a legal advisor, before which Kapuuo is due to appear in the coming weeks.
A group of Katjiua supporters yesterday marched to Uutoni’s office to hand over a petition in which they demand that government cease and desist from their ‘biased and oppressive’ treatment of the OTA as well as stop ‘stifling’ its operations.
Furthermore, the petition - signed by Ombara Bethold Tjiundje, chair of the Chiefs’ Council meeting held over the weekend and Nandiuasora Mazeingo, secretary of the meeting - demands that the ministry stop interfering with the use and operation of the vehicle assigned to the OTA.
“Minister, stop your questionable efforts to hold back funds due to the OTA. OTA is a registered authority, like others in Namibia, and is entitled to the N$176 000 you are withholding and the N$9 000 meant for the fuelling of the vehicle allocated to the OTA,” the petition read.
Unbothered
Kapuuo has in the meantime dismissed the weekend’s chiefs’ council meeting as illegal, saying he – as the recognised chairperson - he did not authorise its convening.
He also pointed out that discussions and actions related to the succession will be deferred until after the unveiling of the tombstone of the late Vekkui Rukoro.
[email protected]
Rifts in the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) are deepening, with the faction headed by Professor Mutjinde Katjiua suspending Chief Vipura Kapuuo as chair of the Chiefs’ Council over weekend, while accusing minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni of interference.This follows a defeat in the High Court early this month in which Katjiua heard he has no locus standi to stop Kapuuo from handling the affairs of OTA as chairperson, as well as a decision by the ministry to impound the authority’s official vehicle.
The minister has also recently indicated that they will only deal with Kapuuo until such a time that a paramount chief is endorsed and elected as per the provisions of the Traditional Authority Act.
Kapuuo has been very clear that in terms of Ovaherero customary law, tradition and protocol, the chairperson of the Chiefs’ Council becomes the acting paramount chief of the Ovaherero traditional community upon the death or incapacitation of a Paramount Chief.
We won’t accept
Meanwhile, in a petition handed over yesterday, the Katjiua faction also demanded that government recognise a Chiefs’ Council meeting at Onderombapa where Katjiua was elected as Paramount Chief earlier this year, as well as last weekend’s Chiefs’ Council meeting where a vote of no confidence was passed against Kapuuo, who was subsequently suspended.
Last weekend’s meeting also resolved to establish a disciplinary committee comprised of traditional chiefs, amongst others, and set to be assisted by a legal advisor, before which Kapuuo is due to appear in the coming weeks.
A group of Katjiua supporters yesterday marched to Uutoni’s office to hand over a petition in which they demand that government cease and desist from their ‘biased and oppressive’ treatment of the OTA as well as stop ‘stifling’ its operations.
Furthermore, the petition - signed by Ombara Bethold Tjiundje, chair of the Chiefs’ Council meeting held over the weekend and Nandiuasora Mazeingo, secretary of the meeting - demands that the ministry stop interfering with the use and operation of the vehicle assigned to the OTA.
“Minister, stop your questionable efforts to hold back funds due to the OTA. OTA is a registered authority, like others in Namibia, and is entitled to the N$176 000 you are withholding and the N$9 000 meant for the fuelling of the vehicle allocated to the OTA,” the petition read.
Unbothered
Kapuuo has in the meantime dismissed the weekend’s chiefs’ council meeting as illegal, saying he – as the recognised chairperson - he did not authorise its convening.
He also pointed out that discussions and actions related to the succession will be deferred until after the unveiling of the tombstone of the late Vekkui Rukoro.
[email protected]
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