Court asked to solve Gciriku chieftainship saga
Chief hopeful seeks alternative routes
Wakudumo said he was within the scope of the law in refusing to sign Mashika's application forms.
Felix Muraghuli Mashika, the man who wants to take over the Gciriku traditional authority throne following the death of Hompa Kassian Shiyambi in 2019, is determined to have Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo sign his chieftainship application form.
The matter is currently in the Windhoek High Court. Mashika wants the court to compel Wakudumo to sign the form, or order an alternative way of getting his application signed - such as allowing another region’s governor to sign it and forward it to the line ministry for consideration.
Another alternative, Mashika proposed, is for the Kavango East deputy sheriff to be accorded the powers to sign the application.
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni and the Gciriku traditional authority are the second and third respondents in the case, while High Court Judge Nate Ndauendapo is presiding.
This battle started in July when Mashika turned to the court after Wakudumo refused to sign his application form on two occasions.
Having already secured the signature of the chairperson of the Gciriku chiefs' council, Chrysantius Likoro, the only issue is Section C, which requires the signature of the regional governor before it is forwarded to the ministry for consideration.
Not according to law
In a letter to Likoro dated 7 September, Wakudumo wrote that Mashika’s identification as a candidate was not done in accordance with the provisions of the customary law of the VaGciriku community, as per the Traditional Authorities Act.
“Based on the above, I declined to sign both application forms.”
With the court yet to make a determination, the governor said he has thus far only signed and forwarded an application form by Bartholomeus Aruvitha Kayoka, which he said was completed by the right people and done in accordance with the law.
However, in his answering affidavit, Wakudumo said hope is not lost for Mashika, provided his application form is done in the same fashion as Kayoka’s.
The parties were expected attend a case management conference hearing last Wednesday, but failed to file a joint case management report.
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The matter is currently in the Windhoek High Court. Mashika wants the court to compel Wakudumo to sign the form, or order an alternative way of getting his application signed - such as allowing another region’s governor to sign it and forward it to the line ministry for consideration.
Another alternative, Mashika proposed, is for the Kavango East deputy sheriff to be accorded the powers to sign the application.
Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni and the Gciriku traditional authority are the second and third respondents in the case, while High Court Judge Nate Ndauendapo is presiding.
This battle started in July when Mashika turned to the court after Wakudumo refused to sign his application form on two occasions.
Having already secured the signature of the chairperson of the Gciriku chiefs' council, Chrysantius Likoro, the only issue is Section C, which requires the signature of the regional governor before it is forwarded to the ministry for consideration.
Not according to law
In a letter to Likoro dated 7 September, Wakudumo wrote that Mashika’s identification as a candidate was not done in accordance with the provisions of the customary law of the VaGciriku community, as per the Traditional Authorities Act.
“Based on the above, I declined to sign both application forms.”
With the court yet to make a determination, the governor said he has thus far only signed and forwarded an application form by Bartholomeus Aruvitha Kayoka, which he said was completed by the right people and done in accordance with the law.
However, in his answering affidavit, Wakudumo said hope is not lost for Mashika, provided his application form is done in the same fashion as Kayoka’s.
The parties were expected attend a case management conference hearing last Wednesday, but failed to file a joint case management report.
[email protected]
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