Mbumba postpones Hosea Kutako shrine unveiling to attend Boko’s inauguration

President Nangolo Mbumba has postponed the unveiling of chief Hosea Kutako’s shrine to attend the inauguration ceremony of Botswana’s new president.

President-elect Duma Boko will be inaugurated on Friday, the same day that Kutako’s shrine unveiling was scheduled to take place.

Presidential spokesperson Alfred Hengari says Mbumba has accepted an invitation to attend Boko’s inauguration ceremony.

“The Presidency wishes to apologise for any inconvenience the change of dates . . . may have caused,” he says.

Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) chief Mutjinde Katjiua has commended Mbumba for postponing the event and recommends proper planning by inviting the Batswana chiefs whose predecessor played an important role in Namibia’s independence.

Katjiua says Kutako should be recognised as a significant player in Namibia’s politics, earning him global recognition by the United Nations.

The Kutako family earlier claimed they were excluded from plans to unveil the shrine at Toasis in the Omaheke region.

Katjiua said the Omaheke governor, the National Heritage Council, and the Office of the President should plan the event better.

“No consultation or updates on project progress at all, following the groundbreaking ceremony in 2023, was sent to the OTA despite letters sent to Hage Geingob and the director of the National Heritage Council,” he said.

The event has been postponement to 10 December.