Traditional Authority

[Tuhafeni]

Dear Forum members

I am a bit in dilemma as far as the Chiefmentship is concern in Namibia and this was awaken in me by the Namibian article below; Fellow members, tell me How many Chiefs does one tribe should have? or what are the Criteria used to decler one as a Chief in a certain tribe or community. I am real laymen when it come to this thing. May be one out there I have some useful information, please lets share your views.

Herero chiefs launch international appeal

BRIGITTE WEIDLICH
RESENTMENT and frustration are simmering among more than 40 unrecognised Herero chiefs, who have been waiting seven years for Government to recognise them after they won a partial court victory in December 2001.

"We have explored all avenues of Government and are now left with one option only and that is to appeal to the United Nations and international human rights organisations," Herero Chief John Tjikuua of Okakarara said in Windhoek yesterday.

"We will also turn to the former Western contact group, being the US, Britain, France, Germany and Canada, the countries which helped Namibia to reach Independence together with the UN," Chief Tjikuua added.

"We will send out the international petitions in the next two weeks.

The chiefs lost their official Government recognition as traditional leaders in 1995 after a new law was promulgated, forcing all chiefs to reapply for recognition, but dozens of chiefs did not get recognised after submitting their forms to the Ministry of Local, Regional Government and Housing.

The Ministry never explained why not. The chiefs believe only those sympathising with the ruling Swapo party received recognition.

Chief Tjikuua, accompanied by Chief Joseph Masupi and the secretary for the group, Gerhard Zeze, told reporters they had several meetings with the Ministry and one with President Hifikepunye Pohamba last year, but all they heard was "Government is considering the matter."

"How long are they considering now? It is seven years! This is violation of the rights of communities. We are marginalised by our own Government, we have suffered enough under the German and South African governments. We cannot tolerate this practice any more. The perpetual marginalisation of minority groups has led to uprisings in Darfur, Somalia and Kenya," Chief Tjikuua stated.

He added that they and other tribal leaders had been officially recognised by South Africa and the status had remained in independent Namibia for five years until the new law was passed. In December 2001, the High Court set aside the Government decision not to recognise the 46 Herero chiefs and leaving it tot the Council of Traditional Leaders to decide.

The court fell short of ordering Government to recognise the group of chiefs, but the process for official recognition had to start afresh - something the Herero leaders have been waiting for since then.

Chief Tjikuua told reporters yesterday that his group would consult with unrecognised leaders of other tribes in the country to invite them to join the international petitioning.

"Before we were all on an equal footing, but the new legislation suddenly robbed us of our recognised status," he said.

His group had requested another meeting with Minister John Pandeni last year, but was still waiting for a date to be set, he said. In 2006 the unrecognised Herero chiefs sent a letter to the United Nations, but so far they have only received a letter acknowledging receipt of their letter.

[Comrade_007]

I'm also not very knowledgeable about this issue, but it seems to me that one chief per tribe seems appropriate. Otherwise we end up with too many chiefs and too few tribesmen and that would be a disaster, at least in our context of economic impoverishment. All too often we can see how the traditional systems are exploited for political purposes, and essentially become networks of patronage for ruling parties . It would be interesting to find out how exactly the Government recognises chiefs, i.e. what the criteria are. Should it not be the tribe that decides?

[Oneword]

I am putting info together at the moment. I'll post this afternoon.

[phelakuti]

Tuhafeni, I wrote an answer long enough to explain it all but the forum's rules censored it. The short answer is as many as the local constituencies in the regions. State and local self governance is the pillar of democracy

[Oneword]

Sorry, but better late than never!

The following Traditional Authorities are those currently recognised:

KAVANGO:

Mbunza
Sambyu
Gciriku
Kwangali
Mbukushu/Hambukushu

OWAMBO:

Ondonga
Uukkwaluudhi
Ongandjera
Uukwambi
Ombalantu
Uukolonkadhi
Oukwanyama
Okalongo

CAPRIVI

Masubia
Mafwe
Mayeyi
Mashi

DAMARA

!Gobanin
/Khomanin
!Oe#gan
Tsoaxudaman
!Gaiodaman

NAMA

Witbooi
Bondelswart
Soromaas
Kai-#Kaun
Topnaar
Afrikaner
Swartbooi
Blouwes
Vaalgras

TSWANA/KALAHARI

Batswana Ba Namibia
Bakgalagadi

MBANDERU

Mbanderu


HERERO

Kambazembi Royal House
Zeraua
Otjikaoko
Vita Royal House
Maharero Royal House


SAN

Ju/Hoan
!Kung
Hai-//Om

[phelakuti]

Way to go One.

[phelakuti]

If this institution serves a meaningful purpose. If such recognised by the land's supreme authority, how politics could be taken out of its maintenance. Who decide whether one is a legitimate or recognizable authority or is it left at the whims of the ruling party and cronies. If those who are claiming to have been left out for political reasons have a case or not. Pesonally, there needs to be some aparatuss in place that could insulate politics from this institution, otherwise it either could be all together scrapped or fully politicized to an extend that their members could be included under proper ECN auspices and the popular mandate.

[Pietro]

Life is politics, politics is life and never the twain shall be separated

[phelakuti]

Pietro,
Well for its sake, what about harmony. When we speak of multi-partisanship we advocate an apolitical stance. There are issue that cannot be resolved without resorting to politics, but there are also those where politics can give room for common sense. The multi-partisanship harmony for community development as opposed to winning credit for own political faction, for instance.

[Oneword]

Excuse me for chipping in, but I thought that, in many cases, "politics" and "common sense" were as mutually exclusive as "military intelligence"?