TAKE up your dispute with the relevant Minister, was the response of the Office of the President in a letter to one of the Vaalgras factions over the roiling strive within the Orlam community.
The State House letter was in response to a letter earlier this year to President Hifikepunye Pohamba, in which the faction led by Daniel Apollus petitioned the President to overturn the alleged ‘unconstitutional’ appointment of six councillors to the Orlam Traditional Council by Orlam Chief Joel Stephanus. In the State House communique, the faction is advised to seek an audience with Local Government Minister, Jerry Ekandjo. ‘The Head of State has directed that you seek an audience with Hon. Jerry Ekandjo, MP, Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development and discuss with him all matters you intended to bring to the attention of His Excellency the President,’ the letter from State House, signed by Executive Director Ndali-Che Kamati, states.The Apollus faction are calling for the nullification of Stephanus’ appointments, arguing that Stephanus had no mandate to appoint councillors on his sole discretion. Chief Joel Stephanus has numerously rejected the claims of the Apollus faction, arguing that the Traditional Authority Act empowered him to appoint the councillors. The Apollus faction has also lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), alleging mismanagement of Traditional Authority funds. The allegations implicate Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Willem Konjore, as well as Chief Stephanus and Orlam traditional councillor Willem Louw. Konjore is also accused of allegedly illegally grazing his livestock on communal land, despite owning a commercial farm.ACC Director Paulus Noa on Monday confirmed receipt of the faction’s complaints. ‘We need proper information, therefore I urged the complainants to come out of their cocoons to provide proper information to prove the alleged corrupt practices against the implicated parties,’ Noa said. Noa advised the Apollus faction to either take up the matter with the Local Government Ministry or Regional Council, saying their case was more administrative rather than an actual case of corruption. luqman@namibian.com.na
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