Traditional authority to be inaugurated at weekend

THE Okalango District in the Omusati Region – with about 70 000, mostly Oshimbadja-speaking inhabitants – has decided to choose its own traditional authority.

The acting secretary of the traditional authority, Saima Hinayele, told The Namibian that the official inauguration on Saturday would be attended by the Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda. The area formed part of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority up to the early nineties The new authority will be the eighth traditional authority to be set up in the former Owambo.The others are the Oukwanyama, Ondonga, Uukwambi, Ombalantu, Ongandjera, Uukwaluudhi and Uukolonkadhi institutions.A number of Ministers, senior Government officials, traditional leaders from traditional authorities across the country, governors, regional and local councillors have been invited to the event.Okalongo decided to go it alone after the Ovakwanyama decided in the early nineties to have a king as their traditional chief.The Okalongo Traditional Authority, which includes 41 villages and 41 village headmen, will now resort under Chief Matias Walaula.There will be four senior traditional councillors, including one woman, and six junior traditional councillors.The area formed part of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority up to the early nineties The new authority will be the eighth traditional authority to be set up in the former Owambo.The others are the Oukwanyama, Ondonga, Uukwambi, Ombalantu, Ongandjera, Uukwaluudhi and Uukolonkadhi institutions.A number of Ministers, senior Government officials, traditional leaders from traditional authorities across the country, governors, regional and local councillors have been invited to the event.Okalongo decided to go it alone after the Ovakwanyama decided in the early nineties to have a king as their traditional chief.The Okalongo Traditional Authority, which includes 41 villages and 41 village headmen, will now resort under Chief Matias Walaula.There will be four senior traditional councillors, including one woman, and six junior traditional councillors.