Bondelswarts authority ‘tired of having no leader,’ divided between two potential chiefs

Members of the Bondelswarts Traditional Authority have questioned the procedure followed to inaugurate Denzyl Christians as their new chief.

The group gathered at the office of //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick at Keetmanshoop on Friday, seeking answers.

Since the death of their former chief, Anna Christiaans, in 2011, the traditional community has been in a succession dispute on the eligibility of two candidates, Nathanael Christiaan, the son of late chief Anna, and Denzyl Christiaan.

Denzyl is the son of the late acting chief Josef Christiaan, who was regarded too young to take over the leadership at the time of the death of Anna, as he was only 15 years of age.

Senior councillor Hans Jossop of the traditional authority said the community planned to host the inauguration of Denzyl as chief this weekend, but was informed by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development that the government did not receive an application from the office of governor Frederick.

“We were informed in 2017 by former minister Sophia Shaningwa that if we do not coronate Nathanael, because of matrilineal lineage, we have to wait for Denzyl Christiaan to become 25 years of age to hand over the chieftainship to him. Denzyl turned 25 on 12 August. We informed the governor’s office three months ago about the development and our intention to coronate him and handed in our application.

“The people are tired of being without a leader and to be constantly known as a people in dispute,” said Jossop.

Governor Frederick could not be reached for comment.

The traditional authority issued a press release informing the community of a postponement of Denzyl’s coronation.

The press release says the Bondelswarts bloodline is “patrilineal, deeply rooted in the history and traditions of their ancestors and therefore, no court, unlawful authority or division can rob them of their values.”