Okongo: In the Ombulu district of Okongo, community members from the Ekonghola village peacefully demonstrated on Thursday against the Ondonga Traditional Authority’s appointment of Sylvanus Elago as their new headman. This protest follows the vacancy left by the death of former headman Antonius Nghilongwa in 2021.

According to The Namibian Press Agency, the spokesperson for the demonstrators, the community marched from Shell Ondangwa to the Ondonga Traditional Authority office at Oluno, where they submitted a petition expressing their rejection of Elago’s inauguration, scheduled for November 21, 2023. The community contends that Elago, who is not from Ekonghola, lacks understanding of the village’s needs.

Gabriel highlighted that Nghilongwa had nominated three potential successors, none of whom were considered for the headman position. The Traditional Authorities Act of 2000 mandates that a headman or headwoman should be elected by village residents and be a permanent resident of the village, criteria which, according to Gabriel, Elago does not meet.

The community’s spokesperson asserted that Namibian laws allow people to vote for their chosen leaders. She urged the Ondonga Traditional Authority councillors to impartially address the matter in the best interest of the people.

The group has given the traditional authority until November 22 to respond to their petition. Lot Kasamane, second in charge in the Ondangwa District for the Ondonga Traditional Authority, received the petition and assured the demonstrators that it would be forwarded to the appropriate authority. However, Kasamane indicated that a response might take some time.