Zeraeua talks unity ahead of White Flag Day

Chief Manasse Zeraeua of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority has invited all Namibians, including his detractors, to join him at the 87th annual White Flag Day at Omaruru this weekend. Zeraeua ascended to the still-disputed chieftaincy following the death of his father, Chief Christian Eerike Zeraeua, last year. Yesterday he maintained there was no squabble with the faction led by the other claimant to the throne, Raphael Hiangungo Kapia of the Ovakweyuva Votjipepa clan. "All I can say is that I am the rightful heir to the throne and I was anointed and if other people claim that they are heir to this throne then that is their story," said Zeraeua. At the Wilhelm Zeraeua Commemoration, also known as White Flag Day, the traditional authority and its followers celebrate and reminisce about the bravery of their ancestors. On whether he had invited Kapia and his faction, Zeraeua said he had extended an invitation to everyone, including that faction, to join them and should they not wish to do so it is their constitutional right not to. Although he tried to play down any feud between him and Kapia, in May this year the latter wrote a petition rejecting Zeraeua as the appointed leader of the traditional authority. The late Chief Christian Eerike Zeraeua took over the chieftaincy from his uncle, Chief Kapia, who died in 1979 and was Raphael Kapia's father, hence the argument that Raphael was next in line to become chief. However, Zeraeua claimed his position in accordance with the Herero culture and tradition, which apparently dictates that the first-born child of a chief automatically becomes the heir upon that chief's death. At a media conference this week, Zeraeua, who chose not to give an update on the squabble, said: "I wish to reiterate that I and the [traditional authority] shall continue to offer an olive branch to our brothers and sisters and shall pursue to preach unity and guard it. "I wish to state that the 87th Wilhelm Zeraeua Commemoration will be held in the same spirit as in the past." He further extended an invitation to government officials, OvaHerero - Red Flag and OvaMbanderu, Green Flag as well as followers of the 'Great Zeraeua' - to join him and his followers in commemorating the day. His invitation came shortly after OvaHerero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako asked during a parliamentary debate why national leaders do not respond to traditional and cultural day invitations, like the annual Red Flag Day at Okahandja. WINDHOEK Elvis MURARANGANDA