Chief threatens hostile takeover

It what seems to be a growing trend in recent years, another clan has come forward with claims of infighting within the its traditional authority, with Chief Frans /Goagoseb claiming that he is the rightful holder of the post as the leader of the /Gobanin people.
Currently, the /Gobanin people are led by Stephanus Gariseb who /Goagoseb hinted without mentioning his name directly but only referring to him only as ‘the current leadership’, to be an unelected, unrecognised and illegitimate leader of the /Gobanin clan.
In a press conference held at the Katutura Community Hall on Tuesday of this week, the /Gobanin Traditional Authority under the leadership of /Goagaseb said that they were tired of the divisive forces within the clan, and that the chief was going to expose the corrupt practices and divisive tactics of those within the /Gobanin people who have left his people poor and disenfranchised.
According to a press statement released through the office of Chief /Goagoseb, the /Gobanin people reaffirmed the leadership of Chief /Goagoseb as the only legitimate leadership that the /Gobanin people are willing to accept.
The chief wants to be recognised as the rightfully elected leader of the /Gobanin people as per the will of the people, whom he says he has been leading since 2003 when he was elected and inaugurated as chief.
“The Chief was sworn-in on 21 December 2003, in accordance with the /Gobanin customary law and procedure in terms of Section 4 of the Traditional Authorities Act, 2000 at /Gobanin Recreation Camp, /Gobanin,” the press release stated.
Was gazetted
Documents in the Namibian Suns possession state that Frans /Goagoseb was elected by more than 35 000 /Gobanin that were in attendance at a gathering on 21 December 2003. The document in question is a gazetted document.
The reason for the proposed designation of /Goagaseb is justified as stemming ‘from an overwhelming decision by the community on 21 December 2003’ to be led by /Goagaseb as their chief. The document was signed by the paramount leader of the Damara people, Justus Garoëb on 4 October 2010 in Windhoek.
/Goagoseb, who says that he is a direct descendant of the late Chief Willie /Goagoseb who passed on 20 July 1993, says he is the person meant to succeed Willie /Goagoseb after he was elected by the clan in 2003, in the presence of Justus Garoëb, Kohima Riruako and Albert Tsuob.
/Goagoseb, in his keynote address at the press conference said that he wanted to be instated into the traditional authority as the rightful Chief of the /Gobanin. “This entire country knows that I was elected by my people to lead them, it’s not a secret.
“I have asked you all to gather here today so that I can let everyone know that I am first and foremost acting in the interest of democracy by stating that I am the leader of the /Gobanin, and asking those who seek to remove me from my post as well as those who don’t recognise me to stop these acts, as I will be forced to take a harder position in dealing with these defectors.
“Within seven days I am going to produce proof of all the allegations that I am making if my demands are not heard, and we might go as far as taking those in question to court. The time has come for the /Gobanin to stand together and make a mark to show that we are serious about taking back the leadership of our people and getting them out of the clasp of poverty,” /Goagoseb said in his address.
Governor support
Garoëb, is said to know about Chief /Goagoseb reclaiming his rightful place as the leader of the /Goobanin, and has given /Goagoseb full support to continue with his course of action.
On 12 October 2010, Laura McLeod as governor of the regional council of Omaheke, where the /Goabnin traditional authority is situated, signed off another document that acknowledges that an application to have Chief /Goagoseb recognised as the leader of the /Gobanin clan.
In 2010 the Damara Kings Council sent a letter to Jerry Ekandjo, the then minister of regional and local government, to send a representative to the mediations between Chief Stefanus Gariseb, the sitting chief of the /Gobanin people, and Chief Frans /Goagoseb, the chief-elect.
According minutes of the meeting in possession of the Namibian Sun, Gariseb was a no-show at the meeting, with Ekandjo also failing to send a representative to sit in on the mediations.
In a letter addressed to Ekandjo in his capacity as Minister in June 2011, lawyers from Murorua and Associates drafted a letter on behalf of /Goagoseb citing that Gariseb was already supposed to be removed by 16 August 2010 from his position as the ‘erstwhile improperly appointed [chief]…in accordance with their customary law’.
Another document in Namibian Sun’s possession, from the office of /Goagoseb, states no person in the /Gobanin clan remembers meeting Gariseb in his capacity as the leader of the /Gobanin people. The document also makes other allegations against Gariseb which range from fraudulent firing of /Gobanin Traditional Authority members, to wearing a false emblem and a flag demonstrating different colours from the ones provided for by the Supreme Customary law.
KEITH VRIES