Court orders King Elifas to testify
Oshakati High Court judge Maphios Cheda has granted an order that compels Ondonga king, Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, to give oral testimony in the matter in which a group of councillors are challenging their dismissal.
Cheda yesterday ordered that the legal teams set a date within 14 days on which the king will be required to testify.
The court also ordered the six respondents in the matter to settle the legal costs for themselves and the applicants, in terms of the application brought to have the king testify.
In July last year, King Elifas dismissed the traditional councillors and the fallout is still continuing.
They are former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma, former secretary Joseph Asino, senior headman for the Ondangwa district John Walenga, former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.
The dismissed leaders, through their lawyer Elize Angula, assisted by George Coleman, made a submission on 30 July that King Elifas must give oral evidence.
The king's lawyer, Elia Shikongo, assisted by Sandra Miller, objected on the grounds that the applicants wanted to test the king's mental capabilities.
Last year, Elifas appointed popular northern businessmen Erastus Mvula and Ondangwa mayor Paavo Amwele to replace Walenga as the senior headmen responsible for the Ondangwa district.
Rainhold Nepolo replaced Asino in the Oniiwe district, Naeman Kambala took over from Kamanya at Amuteya, while former president Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda was appointed as secretary and also took over from Kauluma at Ongula yaNetanga.
Elifas and his five new councillors are the respondents.
The dismissed councillors remain the gazetted traditional leaders of the Ondonga community and are currently operating from Onethindi as community court justices and assessors, under the justice ministry.
Cheda yesterday ordered that the legal teams set a date within 14 days on which the king will be required to testify.
The court also ordered the six respondents in the matter to settle the legal costs for themselves and the applicants, in terms of the application brought to have the king testify.
In July last year, King Elifas dismissed the traditional councillors and the fallout is still continuing.
They are former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma, former secretary Joseph Asino, senior headman for the Ondangwa district John Walenga, former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.
The dismissed leaders, through their lawyer Elize Angula, assisted by George Coleman, made a submission on 30 July that King Elifas must give oral evidence.
The king's lawyer, Elia Shikongo, assisted by Sandra Miller, objected on the grounds that the applicants wanted to test the king's mental capabilities.
Last year, Elifas appointed popular northern businessmen Erastus Mvula and Ondangwa mayor Paavo Amwele to replace Walenga as the senior headmen responsible for the Ondangwa district.
Rainhold Nepolo replaced Asino in the Oniiwe district, Naeman Kambala took over from Kamanya at Amuteya, while former president Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda was appointed as secretary and also took over from Kauluma at Ongula yaNetanga.
Elifas and his five new councillors are the respondents.
The dismissed councillors remain the gazetted traditional leaders of the Ondonga community and are currently operating from Onethindi as community court justices and assessors, under the justice ministry.
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