From the chambers of the National Assembly to traditional authorities, the Ovaherero people are abused to advance the interests of politicians whose selfish interests supersede the community’s wellbeing, if wellbeing is a consideration at all.
This is according to Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) leader Mike Kavekotora, who on Thursday during a press conference said the ongoing squabbles within the Ovaherero community are politically engineered and geared towards dividing the community.
It is time for the community to wake up and “smell the coffee” because “enough is enough”, he said.
A clearly irritated Kavekotora did not mince his words at the press conference in Windhoek, convened to address the state of affairs within the Ovaherero people.
“I am calling upon politics to stay away and allow the Ovaherero to unite, traditionally,” said Kavekotora.
He added: “Whoever wants to venture into politics must join politics. Don’t use the Ovaherero as a tool to jump into a political position. That is wrong, it is divisive and detrimental to the social welfare of the Ovaherero.”
The politician was particularly worried by events unfolding at the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), where two factions are at loggerheads.
One supports academic Mutjinde Katjiua, who was over the weekend installed as Paramount Chief (PC) designate at a disputed chiefs council conference held at Onderombapa in the Omaheke Region’s Aminius Constituency.
The other faction is rooting for Ovitoto chief Vipuira Kapuuo, who is considered the legitimate acting PC and chairperson of the OTA.
This group considers the Onderombapa resolutions null, void and illegal.
Kavekotora proposed that the two warring factions sit around the table and resolve their differences.
“Come back to the drawing board, do things the right way and whoever emerges as the paramount chief of the Ovaherero will at least have the blessing of the community and not an individual group,” he stated.
Kavekotora questioned the Onderombapa meeting.
“I heard a rumour that a bus was sent to Kunene to draw people there. But if you look at those who attended this very important meeting from Kunene, these are just people who were called. The real chiefs were left out,” he added.
The economist-turned-politician continued: “It means somebody was in a rush to move into that position of PC without really following the right procedures.”
He said had this not been the case, the meeting would not have been held under dubious circumstances shrouded by secrecy.
“The media was not even invited to this big event where the next Ovaherero paramount chief was chosen. In fact, this is a very big event for the entire nation,” he added.
On Wednesday, the Katjiua faction refused to reveal their meeting’s resolutions for public scrutiny.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
