Ovaherero still divided over chieftaincy

The group, led by chief Vipuira Kapuuo, last week sent a letter through their lawyers, PD Theron and Associates, to acting chief reverend Boas Tjingaete, chief BP Tjiundje, Tjizapouzeu Uahupirapi and chief designate Mutjinde Katjiua threatening to go to the High Court.Katjiua is the chief designate, while Tjingaete is the acting chief of the authority.“Our clients record that your unlawful actions as a minority group of the Ovaherero have already given rise to violent altercations and are dividing the Ovaherero. For reasons already conveyed to you in our aforesaid two correspondences, we are in the final stages of finalising an application in the High Court of Namibia with our appointed legal counsel to have all your ultra vires actions declared null and void and set aside” the letter reads.Katjiua and Tjingaete were appointed in December at Onderombapa at the Aminuis constituency.Katjiua expects to be confirmed this weekend and to eventually acquire full rights to the throne left by the late chief Vekuii Rukoro.“This letter serves as a final demand that you seize (sic) with and abandon any and all attempts to proceed with irregularly planned senate meeting on 4/5 March 2022,” the letter said.The lawyers demanded a response by 12h00 last week Friday .“Should you fail to provide the written undertaking as set out in paragraph 6 supra, our clients will have no other choice than to accept that you have every intention of disregarding this demand. Our clients will therefore have no other option than to approach the High Court of Namibia on an urgent basis to interdict you from proceeding with your unlawful actions and to apply for the necessary legal costs order against you,” the letter read.The OTA transitional committee acting secretary general Nandiuasora Mazeingo yesterday confirmed they have received the letter and said they would go ahead as planned with the senate meeting slated for the weekend.He said they will continue with the meeting as per the resolution from the chief council's meeting that took place on 10 December.“I am aware of the letter, and the deadline came and passed. We are proceeding with the senate (sic) and we have told them that much,” he said.“All plans are at an advanced stage and the matter of fact is that delegates are arriving on Friday. In fact, some are arriving on Thursday already,” he said.Meanwhile, an email to PD Theron went unanswered, as well as phone calls to Kapuuo.