Dr Hoze Riruako was elected as the new Ovaherero Paramount Chief by the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) senate in a secret ballot at Otjimbingwe on Saturday.

A chief council that comprised 480 delegates from 29 constituencies of the OTA met to deliberate and elect a new leader of the Ovaherero people, under the stewardship of the OTA.

Riruako, who went up against politicians McHenry Venaani of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and Mike Kavekotora of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), received 195 votes, with his competitors obtaining 41 and 33 votes respectively.

The academic replaces the late Advocate Vekuii Rukoro who passed away in 2021.

In his acceptance speech, Riruako cautioned the Ovaherero community not to place politics at the forefront when addressing issues affecting the community, saying the only way they can go forward is by remaining focused on the same goal.

“I know I will succeed in this position because I have your support. This community was never led by those who call themselves ‘alpha and omega’. It has always been the ordinary, humble leaders, who treat everyone with respect and dignity, that succeeded,” he noted.

Venaani congratulated his counterpart, stressing that he has accepted his loss and has no intention of contesting the results.

“None of my intentions lie with going to court to probe electoral processes. I commit myself 100 per cent fully as I have lost freely and fairly,” he expressed.

The election of Riruako means that the OTA now has two paramount chiefs as one of the two factions formed within the OTA during last year elected and endorsed Mutjinde Katjiua as their paramount chief, a matter which is currently being handled by lawyers.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency