Red Flag drama unfolds
The police restricted access to the Ovaherero gravesite at Okahandja after violence erupted.
The Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Vekuii Rukoro, has accused the Namibian police of being politically motivated in its operations after their members restricted access to the historic Herero graves at Okahandja this weekend.
Speaking at the Red Flag Day commemoration in Okahandja on Sunday, he said the police chief Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga was not fair in the way he handled the disagreement between supporters of the OTA under Rukoro's leadership and OtjikaTjamuaha Royal House under the leadership of Chief Tjinaani Maharero.
The police had to intervene when supporters of the two factions became confrontational at the disputed site of the Red Flag Day commemoration in Okahandja on Saturday.
Supporters of the OtjikaTjamuaha faction reacted furiously when supporters of the OTA decided to parade their horses on their plot.
They were in disagreement over where the commemoration should take place – plot number 1755 belonging to the OTA or plot number 1756 leased to the Red Flag Regiment by the Okahandja Municipality.
Someone hit one of the horses with a knobkierie and women threw rocks at the riders, resulting in one of the riders being thrown off his horse.
Things came to a head when an OTA supporter pulled out a gun, cocked it and threatened the crowds.
In another physical altercation a supporter of one of the two factions could be seen pushing someone from the other faction.
The police's Deputy Commissioner Gerhard Mavenjono asked that each of the factions send five representatives to meet with them and a final decision was taken that no one be allowed to access the graves on Sunday – an integral part of the Red Flag commemoration.
A visit to the graves of their ancestors holds sentimental value to the Ovaherero as they believe in paying homage to their fallen heroes.
According to Phanuel Kaapama of the OtjikaTjamuaha Royal House, they could not allow anyone to access the grave site in Heroes' Street as the commemoration proceedings up to that point had not been carried out.
They include lighting the holy fire, which is a site of communication with the ancestors. The fire should be lit before any commemoration takes place.
On Saturday, the commemoration also failed to transpire as tensions ran high at the site in Nau-Aib.
Tjinaani Maharero earlier this week said plot 1755 holds sentimental value not only to the OtjikaTjamuaha clan, but to the entire Ovaherero community both nationally and internationally.
According to Maharero, a court order issued in 2014 states that the 'holy fire', which signifies hope and a site of communication with the ancestors, should be restored east of the corrugated iron structure at this plot.
He said the order had never been challenged, which makes it still valid. This structure was, however, removed from this plot after the OTA bought the area and has now been re-constructed at Plot 1756, which is adjacent to 1755.
In 2014 when the two factions went to court, it was ordered that the OtjikaTjamuaha Royal House in collaboration with the Red Flag Regiment be in charge of the commemoration's organisation, which includes the lighting of the holy fire by a member of the OtjikaTjamuaha clan as dictated by tradition.
Speaking on Sunday, Rukoro said the late Samuel Maharero was the leader of the entire Ovaherero and the police has no right to deny them their constitutional right.
“The Namibian police is one-directional, not objective and is politically motivated,” he said.
Speaking to Nampa on Sunday, Ndeitunga confirmed having ordered the police in Okahandja to restrict access to the graveyard.
“If an action by the public or any group seems to provoke danger or seems to challenge security, the police have no option but to prevent that from happening,” he said.
Ndeitunga also said Rukoro had accused him of being political motivated and biased in his handling of conflict between the two Herero factions.
“I am used to accusations, but where I see there is danger I need to intervene,” he said.
Red Flag Day, also known as Otjiserandu Day, marks the remembrance of the life of Samuel Maharero and the struggle against German troops. The day was introduced by the late Chief Hosea Katjikururume Kutako after the return of the remains of Samuel Maharero on 23 August 1923.
NAMPA
Speaking at the Red Flag Day commemoration in Okahandja on Sunday, he said the police chief Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga was not fair in the way he handled the disagreement between supporters of the OTA under Rukoro's leadership and OtjikaTjamuaha Royal House under the leadership of Chief Tjinaani Maharero.
The police had to intervene when supporters of the two factions became confrontational at the disputed site of the Red Flag Day commemoration in Okahandja on Saturday.
Supporters of the OtjikaTjamuaha faction reacted furiously when supporters of the OTA decided to parade their horses on their plot.
They were in disagreement over where the commemoration should take place – plot number 1755 belonging to the OTA or plot number 1756 leased to the Red Flag Regiment by the Okahandja Municipality.
Someone hit one of the horses with a knobkierie and women threw rocks at the riders, resulting in one of the riders being thrown off his horse.
Things came to a head when an OTA supporter pulled out a gun, cocked it and threatened the crowds.
In another physical altercation a supporter of one of the two factions could be seen pushing someone from the other faction.
The police's Deputy Commissioner Gerhard Mavenjono asked that each of the factions send five representatives to meet with them and a final decision was taken that no one be allowed to access the graves on Sunday – an integral part of the Red Flag commemoration.
A visit to the graves of their ancestors holds sentimental value to the Ovaherero as they believe in paying homage to their fallen heroes.
According to Phanuel Kaapama of the OtjikaTjamuaha Royal House, they could not allow anyone to access the grave site in Heroes' Street as the commemoration proceedings up to that point had not been carried out.
They include lighting the holy fire, which is a site of communication with the ancestors. The fire should be lit before any commemoration takes place.
On Saturday, the commemoration also failed to transpire as tensions ran high at the site in Nau-Aib.
Tjinaani Maharero earlier this week said plot 1755 holds sentimental value not only to the OtjikaTjamuaha clan, but to the entire Ovaherero community both nationally and internationally.
According to Maharero, a court order issued in 2014 states that the 'holy fire', which signifies hope and a site of communication with the ancestors, should be restored east of the corrugated iron structure at this plot.
He said the order had never been challenged, which makes it still valid. This structure was, however, removed from this plot after the OTA bought the area and has now been re-constructed at Plot 1756, which is adjacent to 1755.
In 2014 when the two factions went to court, it was ordered that the OtjikaTjamuaha Royal House in collaboration with the Red Flag Regiment be in charge of the commemoration's organisation, which includes the lighting of the holy fire by a member of the OtjikaTjamuaha clan as dictated by tradition.
Speaking on Sunday, Rukoro said the late Samuel Maharero was the leader of the entire Ovaherero and the police has no right to deny them their constitutional right.
“The Namibian police is one-directional, not objective and is politically motivated,” he said.
Speaking to Nampa on Sunday, Ndeitunga confirmed having ordered the police in Okahandja to restrict access to the graveyard.
“If an action by the public or any group seems to provoke danger or seems to challenge security, the police have no option but to prevent that from happening,” he said.
Ndeitunga also said Rukoro had accused him of being political motivated and biased in his handling of conflict between the two Herero factions.
“I am used to accusations, but where I see there is danger I need to intervene,” he said.
Red Flag Day, also known as Otjiserandu Day, marks the remembrance of the life of Samuel Maharero and the struggle against German troops. The day was introduced by the late Chief Hosea Katjikururume Kutako after the return of the remains of Samuel Maharero on 23 August 1923.
NAMPA
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