Amalwa jumps ship

Oniimwandi district senior councillor Naeman Amalwa says he was not well-advised when he took the decision to turn his back on Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo and six fellow councillors, who were reportedly fired by late Ondonga king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas in 2017. In an about-turn, Amalwa has now urged the people of his district to rally behind Nangolo as the new Ondonga king, despite being listed as one of the eight applicants in a court challenge against urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga's decision to recognise Nangolo as King Elifas' successor.Amalwa was initially one of the two gazetted traditional leaders who formed part of the faction that is backing Konis Eino Kalenga as the next king.Amalwa called a community meeting this past Saturday at Oniimwandi. He did not attend, but sent one of the seniors at Oniimwandi, Uno Nashandi, to represent him and pass his message to the people.“I am sent by our senior headman, Amalwa, to inform you all that he has accepted a decision by the government to recognise Nangolo as the king of Ondonga. He is therefore urging you all to support King Nangolo,” Nashandi told the gathering.“You are all invited to his coronation event on 29 June at Onambango.”When contacted for comment, Amalwa said he has been aware that Nangolo is the legitimate king chosen by the late Elifas who died in April this year. Amalwa said he was not consulted on the latest court case and therefore he did not sign the confirmatory affidavit.“As gazetted traditional leaders we are employed by government and that is where we get our salaries. The government has recognised Nangolo as the king and there is nothing else I could do but honour such a decision. Following the decision, I went to the people of Oniimwandi and told them the government decision, which we have to honour,” said Amalwa.“I am quite aware that Nangolo was chosen by the late King Immanuel as his successor; something that many of the Ondonga people are also aware. For peace to be retained in Ondonga… I am happy that the government also took the decision to recognise him and that is the decision we have to support.”When King Elifas was still alive, Amalwa fought for the dismissal of his six fellow councillors, claiming they were fired by the king.Amalwa also lodged court applications in which he requested the High Court to order the dismissed councillors not to perform any duties within the Ondonga community.He also claimed he was appointed as King Elifas' deputy.In an affidavit filed on 22 May 2018, Amalwa argued that Nangolo and the six dismissed leaders continued to defy and undermine the powers and authority of the Ondonga king.Amalwa also wanted the court to grant an order forcing Mushelenga to de-gazette the dismissed councillors.In 2017 it was reported that Elifas fired his long-serving top aides, including the late Peter Kauluma and former Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) spokesperson Joseph Asino, senior headman John Walenga and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya. The other dismissed councillors are Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili. “I was not well-advised and now I am well-advised and informed. I am now clearing my consciousness and that is why I refused to sign the confirmatory affidavits for the current case. I cannot go against the government decision, which I am quite sure is the right decision,” said Amalwa.“The palace is at Onambango and the king is Shuumbwa (Nangolo). I am well-aware that he was appointed by the late king as his successor. What happened in-between is history and we need to move forward. Let the people of Oniimwandi support Shuumbwa and we must go to Onambango in our numbers on Saturday.”The Windhoek High Court is expected to hear the matter in which Kalenga and seven other applicants, including Amalwa, are challenging Mushelenga's decision to recognise Nangolo on Thursday. Kalenga's lawyer Elia Shikongo said Amalwa is listed as an applicant merely in his capacity as a signatory to the application on behalf of Kalenga.Shikongo could, however, not shed more light on the matter as it is now sub judice.ILENI NANDJATO

Amalwa jumps ship

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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Amalwa jumps ship

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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