Coronation under threat

Contender for the Ondonga kingship, Konisa Eino Kalenga, as well as senior members of the Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA), have applied for an interdict, on an urgent basis, to stop the swearing in of Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo as the new king this weekend.The ceremony is planned for tomorrow at Onambango in the Oshana Region. Nangolo's succession to the throne is disputed by Kalenga and a section of the royal family, who are contesting urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga's decision to designate him as the new king. They maintain Kalenga has been “nominated” by “authorised” members of the royal family to succeed the late King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who died in April. These authorised members are elderly females of the royal family - Selma Sheyavali, Heleni Auala, Hilma Nambahu and Aily Petrus - who are said to have the power under Ondonga customary law to nominate and appoint the hereditary king. In his court application, Kalenga seeks, on an urgent basis, to have Nangolo's candidacy as king overturned and the coronation stopped.He also wants Mushelanga's decision to be reviewed and set aside.Mushelenga earlier this month said Kalenga's application for designation as the new king did not pass the verification process. Kalenga's legal representatives, Shikongo Law Chambers, on 10 June wrote to Mushelenga saying the minister was not in a position “to act fairly and reasonably” because he was not adequately informed. Shikongo Law Chambers said this specifically relates to the failure of Oshana governor Elia Kaulifewangali Irimari to verify Kalenga's application. Kalenga's lawyers then asked for a written assurance from the minister that he would not implement his “unlawful and invalid” decision to approve Nangolo's application to succeed the late King Elifas.

Coronation under threat

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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Coronation under threat

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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