The National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) has entered the succession dispute of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) Paramount Chief (PC), saying there is a blurred line between the two institutions.

This makes Nudo an interested party in whoever ascends to the OTA’s top post and how that process is managed.

Nudo says the apparent dispute within the rank and file of OTA ‘has direct effects on Nudo party governance.’

This is because Nudo was conceptualised and formed by the Ovaherero Chiefs’ Council in the early 60s, the direct consequence being that the two entities now share subjects and the ‘OTA traditional chiefs are the backbone of the party.’

Since the passing of the late Ovaherero PC Vekuii Rukoro, a dispute has ensued regarding his potential successor.

At present, the OTA is divided into two factions, one supporting Rukoro’s former right-hand man, academic Mutjinde Katjiua. The other has endorsed Ovitoto Chief, Vipuira Kapuuo as the legitimate acting PC.

‘The National Executive Committee (NEC) is aware of the current divisions with the Ovaherero Traditional Authority with regard to the election of the new Paramount Chief, following the death of late PC Adv Rukoro last year. Cognisant of the fact and reality that one cannot divorce the Nudo party from the Chief Council and OTA in general, the party leadership felt the need to engage the two warring factions within the OTA to see whether we can reach an amicable solution,’ Nudo secretary-general (SG) Joseph Kauandenge said at a press conference in the capital on Tuesday.

Nudo, Kauandenge said, has no interest in who becomes the next PC.

The party is more interested in resolving the disputes among the chiefs amicably, to avert further division among the deeply divide Ovaherero people.

‘The party leadership resolved to rescue its membership base by meeting all OTA traditional thiefs who are members of Nudo in an effort to create awareness on this dispute and the negative repercussion it might have towards the governance and stability within the party,’ Kauandenge continued.

The Nudo NEC has since dispatched chief Bethold Tjiundje and Kapuuo to help bring various chiefs to the discussion table.

Over the years, Nudo has shrug off the tribal tag that it is a Herero political party, continuously maintaining that it is a national formation for all Namibians, a position Kauandenge reaffirmed.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency