By Kazenambo Kazenambo Please allow me space in your newspaper to clarify some few factors surrounding my name’s linkage to the succession issue of the Chieftainship of the Ovaharero Traditional Authority (OTA) as it is being talked about in some circles as well as reported in the print and social media such as face book. I have received many queries from some journalists, friends and comrades from across the globe finding out if it is true, am interested in filling up the post of ‘Paramount Chief’ of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority which became vacant after the passing-on of late Honorable Chief Kuaima Riruako (may his soul rest in eternal peace)? In the same breath, I am subjected to the on-going heavy lobbying from some young, not so young, senior and middle aged members of the Ovaherero Community of different political , and religious background (men and women) who want me to stand for election to become the next ‘Paramount Chief’ of the OVaherero Community of the OTA. My answer to those who are bothered to know my position as far as the above stated subject is concerned, is that, with all due respect to whoever it may concern, I am not going to stand nor will I participate in any election to fill the post under discussion. To be honest, I have never been and I am still not closer to that traditional authority, hence it is farfetched and out of place for one to attempt to link me to it in one form or another. My name’s reference to it in this regard is a wrong address: Period! Linking my name to the said post is a wrong posting on the following ground: 1) Firstly as a highly principled former freedom fighter who was a combatant of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia(PLAN) which was SWAPO of Namibia’s military wing that waged the armed liberation struggle to free this nation from the yoke of apartheid colonialism, there is no way I can stoop down to that level. Through PLAN and SWAPO of Namibia, I have made lots of sacrifices for the birth of our nation-state: the free and independent Republic of Namibia, therefore I remain a diehard republican person (nationalist) who cannot head a tribal (traditional) authority structure, more so if I am not compelled by hereditary blood line requirement of some sort based on traditional royal background to do so. However, be that as it may, my view does not mean that, I personally harbor any prejudices against tribal authority structures, but as much as I understand and respect the important role they play in society from the traditional and cultural point of view, otherwise they remain my non political domain from a leadership perspective. Although I am biologically connected to some of the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu royal novelties, am far from the direct line of heirs to the throne of those traditional structures. 2) Furthermore, as a republican person, I am committed to the upholding of secular democratic norms and practices that obtain in any unitary state such as ours in which comical and imaginary titles such as ‘paramount chief’, ‘king’, ‘queen’ etc are tantamount to delusionary hallucinations as in the letter and spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia are non-existent. 3) According to our enacted legislations and public policies governing our traditional authorities, we do not have recognized so-called ‘paramount chiefs’, ‘kings, ‘queen’, rather we have in place recognized Chiefs and Senior Concillors of various traditional authorities with specific confined geographical areas of jurisdictions in this country. As I keep referring to the Republic, now as a republican person, let me explain what a Republic is: According to the Collins English Dictionary, the word Republic means: form of government in which the people or their elected representatives possess the supreme power. A Republic is a country in which the president is the head of state. By way of further illustration in this connection, to borrow from Ian Crofton’s Big Ideas in Brief (200 world – changing concepts explained in an instant) a state –in contrast to civil society is a formally constituted association of persons with a system of laws and a government with the power to enforce them within a demarcated territory. The state in some ways is like a person: it is regarded –popularly and in international law- as responsible for its actions, and having rights and obligations. Over time, a state acquires something like a personal identity- states are often personified in figures such as Uncle Sam. In a unitary state such as Namibia, like it is the case in all other states that pursue this type of government, political power is the monopoly of the central government which directs the administration of the country right down to local levels. And my take of the foregoing as a republican democrat is that, Namibia is a secular democratic unitary state as opposed to a constitutional monarch or theocracy in which perhaps some morons characters may claim to be ‘paramount’ leaders to rule over us as obedient subjects either based on traditional rituals or religious beliefs. Again in Namibia, constitutionally we do not have autonomous nations or kingdoms within our one Namibian nation, rather we have diverse cultural communities that constitute our rainbow multicultural nation or society. As a matter of fact, the Ovaherero people are part and parcel of this beloved great rainbow nation governed within a unitary state form of government system with the head of state (the President) at its helm. And as a matter of fact, the core function and role of traditional chiefs is to advice the President on the use of communal land in the rural areas across the country amongst other issues. Simply put, the era of ‘paramount chiefs’, ‘kings’ and ‘Queens’ in real terms is long gone. May be during pre-colonial and colonial era, ‘paramount chiefs’, ‘Kings’ and ‘Queens’ commanded real power and central governance over their subjects in the specific territories that belonged to their communities. Now in post independent Namibia where citizens from various ethnic background are scattered as free people across the country, let alone across the globe falling under varies systems of governance: central government, regional and local authorities including traditional authorities, how do you assume or claim to be their ‘paramount chief’, ‘king’ or ‘queen’ even when some of them do not live in your traditional communal (rural) area of jurisdiction? In a democracy such as ours, you have free citizens not subjects, therefore how do you claim to be a ‘paramount chief’ or ‘king’ or ‘queen’ of free citizens who all look up to and fall under the rule of the democratically elected government? Your claim will be based and enforced under which law or public policy in this Country, if else is not lunacy or a comical circus? The Ovaherero people who are scattered in varies Regions and Local Authorities across this country, just like any other citizens (black and white) are represented in the structures of government by democratically elected representatives through their different respective political parties. If it is with regard to issues of legal nature -through the judiciary- they are represented by lawyers who argue their cases in our independent courts. What is the job and terms of reference of a so-called ‘paramount chief’, ‘king’, or ‘queen’ in a unitary state such as Namibia? As far as I know, OTA is recognized as one of the traditional authorities in the area of jurisdiction of Aminis (Omungua) in the Omaheke Region, for administering within the framework of the law and public policie, the cultural practice and customs of the Ovaherero people in that part of our country. Towards this end, as for me, I am a mere mortal (a proletariat): an urbanized Windhoek-based Omuherero-cum Omumbanderu Namibian returnee born in exile in Botswana with no connection to any former native (bantu) reserve or rural area in this country, therefore I automatically don’t qualify to inherit or be elected to the ‘paramount chief’ of OTA because I am not hailing from its recognized area of jurisdiction. I am just a descendent of the dispossessed/disowned and displaced Namibian ancestors who were persecuted into exile from Central Namibia by the German imperialist colonial heartless troops, particularly from the Otjomuise and Okahandja areas, and my present ‘paramount chief’, ‘king’ or ‘queen’ in the area of jurisdiction where I live, Windhoek, is the Mayor of the City of Windhoek under the governance framework of a democratic unitary state, and nationally my ‘paramount chief’, ‘king’, or ‘queen’ is the President of the Republic. Culturally my ‘paramount chiefs’ are all the Ovaherero Chiefs and Senior Councilors, and Chiefs and Senior Councilors of any other Communities, as I have to respect their cultural practices whenever and wherever I happen to be in their area of jurisdiction irrespective. Furthermore, I must use this opportunity to confess, that I am also not heir to the hereditary blood line of the Riruako family who perhaps by birth may be entitled to have claim to that position if cultural norms and practices are to be observed in the filling of that post, as it is usually the case. My apology if my proposition is of any offence to some people as this issue of succession is none of my business, only that my name has been inadvertently linked to it. Normally the filling of traditional positions are not an open contest for Jerk and Gill like the likes of yours truly, but are always exclusive reserve for those who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth with royal blood flowing in their veins - the privileged members of those ruling families. This is the case even in established monarch in mature democracies such as that of the United Kingdom (UK) and others. Now even if they say opportunism and opportunists, know no shame, but are just blindly driven by their egos, how do poor me fit into this succession issue, as if I was one opportunist? I am not one, therefore I must be spared out of this, simple! I conclude by thanking those thousands of Ovaherero and other Namibians who sees leadership qualities and capabilities in me. I vow that I will continue contributing to our nation building wherever possible by working hard for the mutual benefit of all the citizens of our country as a united people living together in a unitary state. I will work hard through civil society organizations such as the Red Flag (Otjiserandu), Genocide Committees, amongst other organizations and platforms, that are open for all of us. As I have now realized the overwhelming support base that loyally support me, my sisters and brothers who are leaders of the Genocide Committees must take note of it, that I may start positioning myself to unseat them, if they are in a relaxing mood in championing our just cause of calling for our reparations by the Germans for the atrocities they have caused against our ancestors in this Country. Another association which we may consider targeting snatch/grab its leadership with KK (Kazenambo Kazenambo) at its helm is the Red Flag (Otjiserandu) as its membership is open for all the Ovaherero if not for all other Namibians, as it is the case in the neighboring Botswana. I advise my brigades support base and fans for us to be on the watch out with an eagle ‘s eye in order for them to land me a leadership position in one of those two entities that are feasible under the framework of the laws of this country as freedom of association is provided for in our country’s laws. The ‘paramount chief’ consideration could have been the most lucrative one, but according to the laws of this country does not exist, unless we intend to run an illegal parallel governance structure in conflict with what is allowed in a unitary state. I am sorry, I will not be party to that. In the same breath, I will not be one of those who will be guilty of causing unnecessary tension, disturbance, dispute and commotion for being power hungry, opportunistic, and over-ambitious to an extent that they would want to contest for leadership everywhere, even in structures where they do not qualify. I pray and wish the OTA a blessed peaceful process in identifying and coronation of their next Chief (Paramount Chief) as per one’s preferred reference. All the best! Moreover, I will continue to contribute to our just call for restorative justice in this country by working through or in collaboration with the Genocide Committees, the Red Flag (Otjiserandu) and other stakeholders. One of this Genocide Committees is led by my extended family martenal sister, and as she can see, the people have spoken, they desperately want me to lead even where I do not qualify or interested, therefore it is high time that she must start preparing to give way to some of us who are in popular demand to lead. See you at the Red Flag (Otjiserandu) day in Okahandja. Thank You.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 16:09:29 +0000
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