Tribal rivalry at Vaalgras heats up

THE rivalry over leadership at Vaalgras has ratcheted up a notch with one faction set to elect its own leadership this month.

The faction led by Daniel Apollus yesterday said it planned to elect its own leaders towards the end of June at Klein Vaalgras. The Apollus faction has accused Orlam Chief Joel Stephanus of having a ‘dictatorship leadership style’ and has petitioned Government for recognition.However, failure by Local Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo to respond to their petition, calling for the removal of six traditional authority leaders, has led them to hold an election, said Apollus. Apollus claims the six traditional authority leaders were ‘unconstitutionally hand-picked’ by Stephanus. Apollus called on those who signed the petition to come out in numbers to elect the leaders of their choice. Yesterday Joel Stephanus said he would not allow the election to take place. ‘Vaalgras area is under my jurisdiction, thus I will not allow the planned election to take place,’ he said. Stephanus accused Apollus of sowing division and conflict among the Orlam people, who are also known as Nama-speaking Hereros. ‘I do not have any issue with one of the faction members, only they have issues with me for reasons unknown to me,’ said Stephanus. Stephanus said Orlam customary law empowered him to elect traditional authority councillors of his choice without consultation.Last month the Apollus faction in protest staged a separate event to an annual Orlam festival commemorating fallen ancestors. luqman@namibian.com.na