Rukoro lieutenants succeed in belated burial
The traditional authority has prevailed in twisting the arm of government, whose regulations required the departed chief to be buried today because of Covid-19.
MATHIAS HAUFIKU and JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) is going head-to-head with government over the funeral and burial proceedings of the late paramount chief advocate Vekuii Rukoro, who died a week ago.
After news of his death started making rounds in the public domain early last Friday morning, there were already informal discussions within the OTA leadership regarding the mourning process to be followed and whether Rukoro, who died of Covid-19, would be buried within seven days as prescribed in the current regulations.
In their relentless pursuit to bury their leader next month, Namibian Sun understands government has since bowed to the demands of the OTA and sanctioned its proposal.
OTA insiders said consensus was reached and it was decided that “our paramount chief cannot be buried like an ordinary citizen, we must adhere to our traditions and rituals”.
Three days before Rukoro’s death, President Hage Geingob had announced the regulations stating clearly that burials are to take place within seven days.
This move was also aimed at decongesting state mortuaries that are overflowing with corpses. Namibia has passed the 1 000 mark of people who have lost their lives due to Covid-19.
The law does, however, grant “authorised officers” the power to issue an extension.
As per the regulations, today would have been the last day before Rukoro’s burial. Geingob had conferred a state funeral upon the late traditional leader, who also served as the country’s Attorney General in the mid-90s.
Sentimental date
OTA secretary-general Professor Mutjinde Katjiua, who also serves as the chair of the transitional committee, earlier this week wrote to health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula seeking approval for the postponement of Rukoro’s burial to 18 July at Okahandja.
Katjiua said they chose that date because it’s the date on which Chief Hosea Kutako died in 1970.
When approached yesterday, Shangula refused to reveal whether he granted the approval.
Executive director in the information ministry Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana also refused to comment on the matter and referred queries to the health ministry.
Katjiua told Namibian Sun “it is not practical to bury him tomorrow [today]”.
“If the ministry instructs us to bury tomorrow, we will have to discuss it at that time. We, however, don't think of it as an option,” he said.
Cabinet secretary George Simataa earlier this week wrote to Katjiua saying “the Covid-19 pandemic and the regulations set in place leave us with a very limited scope to properly honour a man of his stature”.
He implored the OTA to observe and adhere to the regulations and specifically mentioned that the burial should be concluded in seven days, the gathering should not exceed 10 people and that food after the burial should be served on take-away basis.
Katjiua said Rukoro’s five predecessors were buried in Okahandja at the Heroes Shrine “within the parameters of our culture and traditions including a minimum of a month’s mourning period”.
He added that the mourning period will give them time to carry out the necessary rituals.
Paying the piper
According to Katjiua, although the OTA accepted the honour bestowed upon Rukoro, they declined to let government pay for the funeral.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune,” he noted, explaining that the traditional authority is cautious to hand over control of the important proceedings to anyone else.
Katjiua said “there has been no indication regarding the delay of the funeral, but I believe the state understands the situation on the ground. There are cultural practices that need to be honoured and much to do. This was no ordinary death. We need the time,” he said.
Although it is still very early, the chairman of the chief’s council, Vipuira Kapuuo, has taken the reigns to guide the community through the process.
This will probably also entail a meeting of the chief’s council, which according to Katjiua may include as many as 180 people, as each of about 30 chiefs can bring delegations of up to five people.
If an all-Herero summit is needed to settle on the path to choosing a new paramount chief, it would involve between 600 and 800 delegates, he explained.
All that will be done according to procedure and will take time, perhaps commencing only after the unveiling of the tombstone, which can be expected around October or November, and would entail a second grieving ceremony, he said.
Additional reporting by Augetto Graig
WINDHOEK
The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) is going head-to-head with government over the funeral and burial proceedings of the late paramount chief advocate Vekuii Rukoro, who died a week ago.
After news of his death started making rounds in the public domain early last Friday morning, there were already informal discussions within the OTA leadership regarding the mourning process to be followed and whether Rukoro, who died of Covid-19, would be buried within seven days as prescribed in the current regulations.
In their relentless pursuit to bury their leader next month, Namibian Sun understands government has since bowed to the demands of the OTA and sanctioned its proposal.
OTA insiders said consensus was reached and it was decided that “our paramount chief cannot be buried like an ordinary citizen, we must adhere to our traditions and rituals”.
Three days before Rukoro’s death, President Hage Geingob had announced the regulations stating clearly that burials are to take place within seven days.
This move was also aimed at decongesting state mortuaries that are overflowing with corpses. Namibia has passed the 1 000 mark of people who have lost their lives due to Covid-19.
The law does, however, grant “authorised officers” the power to issue an extension.
As per the regulations, today would have been the last day before Rukoro’s burial. Geingob had conferred a state funeral upon the late traditional leader, who also served as the country’s Attorney General in the mid-90s.
Sentimental date
OTA secretary-general Professor Mutjinde Katjiua, who also serves as the chair of the transitional committee, earlier this week wrote to health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula seeking approval for the postponement of Rukoro’s burial to 18 July at Okahandja.
Katjiua said they chose that date because it’s the date on which Chief Hosea Kutako died in 1970.
When approached yesterday, Shangula refused to reveal whether he granted the approval.
Executive director in the information ministry Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana also refused to comment on the matter and referred queries to the health ministry.
Katjiua told Namibian Sun “it is not practical to bury him tomorrow [today]”.
“If the ministry instructs us to bury tomorrow, we will have to discuss it at that time. We, however, don't think of it as an option,” he said.
Cabinet secretary George Simataa earlier this week wrote to Katjiua saying “the Covid-19 pandemic and the regulations set in place leave us with a very limited scope to properly honour a man of his stature”.
He implored the OTA to observe and adhere to the regulations and specifically mentioned that the burial should be concluded in seven days, the gathering should not exceed 10 people and that food after the burial should be served on take-away basis.
Katjiua said Rukoro’s five predecessors were buried in Okahandja at the Heroes Shrine “within the parameters of our culture and traditions including a minimum of a month’s mourning period”.
He added that the mourning period will give them time to carry out the necessary rituals.
Paying the piper
According to Katjiua, although the OTA accepted the honour bestowed upon Rukoro, they declined to let government pay for the funeral.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune,” he noted, explaining that the traditional authority is cautious to hand over control of the important proceedings to anyone else.
Katjiua said “there has been no indication regarding the delay of the funeral, but I believe the state understands the situation on the ground. There are cultural practices that need to be honoured and much to do. This was no ordinary death. We need the time,” he said.
Although it is still very early, the chairman of the chief’s council, Vipuira Kapuuo, has taken the reigns to guide the community through the process.
This will probably also entail a meeting of the chief’s council, which according to Katjiua may include as many as 180 people, as each of about 30 chiefs can bring delegations of up to five people.
If an all-Herero summit is needed to settle on the path to choosing a new paramount chief, it would involve between 600 and 800 delegates, he explained.
All that will be done according to procedure and will take time, perhaps commencing only after the unveiling of the tombstone, which can be expected around October or November, and would entail a second grieving ceremony, he said.
Additional reporting by Augetto Graig
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