Opportunism in Vaalgras chieftainship race

DISGRUNTLED NATIVE WRITES:

It’s very funny how opportunistic some of our Orlam people are.

I thought the deaths of the late Chief and his special aide would have silenced the chieftainship race within Vaalgras. However, it has rather broadened the succession race with quite a few new unexpected entrants that we were not aware of.

That very same loophole was created by the late chief by amending the mysterious Customary Law in his favour to suit the Stephanus’e born from his immediate close blood.

It remains a fact that there’s no royal blood or royal house within Vaalgras. The secret Customary Law was never submitted before the community nor was it adopted by the same community. There are even clauses that are in conflict with the Namibian Constitution, viz. illegal detention of unruly drunk members of the community etc. They have no powers to arrest and detain people.

Even the surviving traditional councillors aren’t eager to leave the Traditional Authority, whilst knowing very well that the majority of the members of the community don’t want them. Meaning, the settlement is in a greater mess than before.

The old Traditional Authority is well known for their cantankerous and hegemonic corrupt practices. They have embezzled many public funds and resources over the years.

I will unequivocally put the blame squarely on the doorstep of the Government and in particular the Urban and Rural Development Ministry. There were too much political deception, camaraderie and protection at the expenses of the rural impoverished and neglected poor.

The other contributing factor is the fact that both the apparent Vaalgras Customary Law and the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000 are silent on the timeframe in which a late chief should be replaced. In the case of all the other office-bearers, such replacements should take place within a period of ninety (90) days.

The old traditional councillors don't want to relinquish power and there is so much interest from the side of the new ambitious entrants, carrying the Stephanus surname, whether they qualify or not in terms of leadership qualities etc. As a result, it's evident that the dust won't settle quickly, unless it deteriorates.

Following the death of those three (3) traditional leaders, the Ministry should have simply Gazetted the submission of Dr. Biwa that's collecting dust in those offices.

The Government through its partial allegiance is just doing more harm than any good. The Government, only if its suites them is warning the traditional leaders and others to take politics out of traditional affairs.