Siwombe, you are not the chief – Uutoni

Kenya Kambowe RUNDUUrban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni banned Eugene Siwombe from performing duties as the chief of the Uukwangali traditional authority following a 2019 High Court order.In a letter dated 24 November 2021, Uutoni told Siwombe that he should desist from performing chiefly duties pending the finalisation of his removal, which will be concluded once President Hage Geingob officially de-gazettes him.He added that the designation process should start afresh.“This communication serves to remind you of the High Court order of 6 March 2019 which set aside your designation as chief of the Uukwangali traditional authority,” the letter read.“You are not allowed to perform any functions as chief.”AdamantMeanwhile, according to the traditional authority chairperson Hamunyera Hambyuka, the process to have a chief recognised by the state is currently ongoing.He is, however, adamant that Siwombe is the chosen one and will remain chief.InvalidIn 2019, High Court Judge Harald Geier set aside Siwombe’s designation as chief of the traditional authority by then minister of urban and rural development Sophia Shaningwa on 15 February 2017.Geier declared his designation “invalid and of no force or effect”, and Siwombe was de-gazetted.Siwombe then took the matter to the Supreme Court, where he ran into a brick wall.The chieftaincy wrangle follows the death of Siwombe’s grandfather, Chief Sitentu Daniel Mpasi, in 2014.Shaningwa’s faultAn anti- Siwombe faction is headed by Andreas Kamukwanyama. The Kamukwanyama-led committee previously told Namibian Sun that they planned to designate a new chief for the tribe.In 2020, Siwombe labelled those trying to remove him from the position he has held since 2015 as “criminals” and “foreigners”.On the Supreme Court ruling, Siwombe blamed Shaningwa for using the term ‘designate’.According to him, chiefs are not ‘designated’ by government but rather recognised in accordance with the Traditional Authorities Act.“The government only recognises you as a hompa and what the government nullified is the then minister who just made a mistake by saying ‘designate’ when she was supposed to just approve,” he claimed.kenya@namibiansun.com

Siwombe, you are not the chief – Uutoni

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Siwombe, you are not the chief – Uutoni

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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