Seibeb speaks up amid efforts to topple him
Police forcefully remove protesters from tribal office
The traditional leader denies allegations of self-enrichment as results of a recent probe remain pending.
The Namibian police intervened over the weekend to remove occupiers from the premises of the Daure Daman Traditional Authority in Uis. Acting on a court order, authorities evicted 30 community members from the property, and two individuals were arrested during the operation.
Community activist Jimmy //Areseb (29) and Ringo /Huseb (34) were taken into custody on charges of obstruction of justice and preventing law enforcement officers from performing their duties. They appeared in the Omaruru Magistrate's Court and were released on bail of N$2,000 each.
Origins of the protest
The unrest began in December when Uis residents started camping outside the gates of the traditional authority's office. According to Chief Zacharias Seibeb, the protesters seized the office on December 18 while he was on an official visit to the Zambezi Region. Locks were reportedly damaged, and access to the office was denied. Seibeb sought a court order to remove the protesters, which specifically named 26 individuals, though //Areseb and /Huseb were not among them.
Seibeb explained that the protest disrupted operations, including access for officers from the land council and the Ministry of Mines and Energy. "We couldn’t get into the office," he said.
Allegations and investigations
The protest is rooted in ongoing efforts to remove Seibeb as chief, a campaign spanning nearly four years. Protesters accuse him of mismanagement and self-enrichment—allegations he denies.
"The ministry sent an investigation team and asked questions about fishing quota money, money from the Chinese, and trust funds, among other things," Seibeb said. He clarified that the traditional authority does not hold a fish quota and detailed the authority’s three bank accounts: two at Standard Bank in Omaruru and one at Nampost in Uis. He emphasized that he lacks signing rights for these accounts. Regarding the Chinese lithium miner Xinfeng Investments, he noted that the company contributes N$10,000 monthly to the authority’s trust account.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development’s investigation into the allegations has not yet yielded a public report.
Tensions with mining activities
Seibeb believes the conflict is linked to mining disputes. In November 2023, the Ministry of Mines and Energy halted alleged illegal mining operations by Xinfeng Investments near Uis. The company’s subsequent closure impacted 160 employees, none of whom, according to Seibeb, were from Uis.
"The people here were told not to work there because the mine is illegal," Seibeb said. "The problem escalated when the traditional authority was accused of being part of the ‘money-eating’ and they decided they no longer wanted me as chief."
Ongoing dialogue
Seibeb planned to meet with council members yesterday to address their grievances. However, //Areseb stated that his bail conditions prohibited his attendance. The aggrieved group has called for the participation of the Erongo regional governor Neville Andre and officials from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Nampol’s chief spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, confirmed that investigations into the allegations of illegal mining are ongoing. “The case has been opened, and officers are still investigating it,” she said.
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Community activist Jimmy //Areseb (29) and Ringo /Huseb (34) were taken into custody on charges of obstruction of justice and preventing law enforcement officers from performing their duties. They appeared in the Omaruru Magistrate's Court and were released on bail of N$2,000 each.
Origins of the protest
The unrest began in December when Uis residents started camping outside the gates of the traditional authority's office. According to Chief Zacharias Seibeb, the protesters seized the office on December 18 while he was on an official visit to the Zambezi Region. Locks were reportedly damaged, and access to the office was denied. Seibeb sought a court order to remove the protesters, which specifically named 26 individuals, though //Areseb and /Huseb were not among them.
Seibeb explained that the protest disrupted operations, including access for officers from the land council and the Ministry of Mines and Energy. "We couldn’t get into the office," he said.
Allegations and investigations
The protest is rooted in ongoing efforts to remove Seibeb as chief, a campaign spanning nearly four years. Protesters accuse him of mismanagement and self-enrichment—allegations he denies.
"The ministry sent an investigation team and asked questions about fishing quota money, money from the Chinese, and trust funds, among other things," Seibeb said. He clarified that the traditional authority does not hold a fish quota and detailed the authority’s three bank accounts: two at Standard Bank in Omaruru and one at Nampost in Uis. He emphasized that he lacks signing rights for these accounts. Regarding the Chinese lithium miner Xinfeng Investments, he noted that the company contributes N$10,000 monthly to the authority’s trust account.
The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development’s investigation into the allegations has not yet yielded a public report.
Tensions with mining activities
Seibeb believes the conflict is linked to mining disputes. In November 2023, the Ministry of Mines and Energy halted alleged illegal mining operations by Xinfeng Investments near Uis. The company’s subsequent closure impacted 160 employees, none of whom, according to Seibeb, were from Uis.
"The people here were told not to work there because the mine is illegal," Seibeb said. "The problem escalated when the traditional authority was accused of being part of the ‘money-eating’ and they decided they no longer wanted me as chief."
Ongoing dialogue
Seibeb planned to meet with council members yesterday to address their grievances. However, //Areseb stated that his bail conditions prohibited his attendance. The aggrieved group has called for the participation of the Erongo regional governor Neville Andre and officials from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
Nampol’s chief spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, confirmed that investigations into the allegations of illegal mining are ongoing. “The case has been opened, and officers are still investigating it,” she said.
[email protected]
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