OTJIWARONGO: A delegation of traditional leaders from the Maharero Royal House on Thursday held a meeting with the Namibian Police’s Otjozondjupa Commander in connection with the Okahandja Red Flag Heroes’ Day Commemoration next weekend.
Senior traditional councillor Elia Kangumine led the delegation to Commissioner Joseph Anghuwo’s office on Thursday evening.
Other traditional councillors who accompanied Kangumine were Zebron Maharero, Christoph Veseevete as well as Phanuel Kaapama, a descendant of the Maharero Royal Family, amongst others.
The Royal Houses of Kambazembi, Mureti, Vita, Zeraua and Nguvauva under Kilus Nguvauva are in support of the Maharero Royal House.
According to Kangumine, the meeting with the Regional Police boss was meant to inform him that the Maharero clan was going to hold commemorations at their sacred grounds in Okahandja from 24 to 26 August this year.
He told Nampa on Thursday evening that the Maharero clan has finally decided to go to Okahandja and camp there to remember their ancestors.
The purpose of attending the annual traditional ceremony at the Okahandja sacred grounds, according to him, was to “fuse the spirit of the OvaHerero new generation to that of their ancestors”.
Kangumine said during past Red Flag commemorations in Okahandja, people walked on top of the graves of their ancestors, which he said humiliated him and others.
“That is one of the humiliations we would like to correct during this year’s Red Flag Commando commemorations,” said Kangumine, without revealing how they will do it.
However, Anghuwo told this agency that there are still hot conflicts and disagreements between the OvaHerero groups of Maharero, and that of Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako.
He said the main disagreement between the two groups is about the location of the Holy Fire of the Red Flag.
According to the Maharero Royal House, the Holy Fire should face east, but Chief Riruako insists that it should face west.
Anghuwo stated that he will also consult Chief Riruako to hear the ‘peaceful’ measures his group have put in place to eliminate conflict between the two groups during the commemoration at Okahandja.
“I will decide with the advice from the Inspector-General (of the Police: Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga) in mind whether to cancel the whole commemoration if they continue to threaten each other, or otherwise the two groups should convince me in writing that none of their people will go there and disturb the peace and stability of this country,” he noted.
On Monday, he already issued a warning to OtjiHerero-speaking Namibians to refrain from threatening each other over issues of the Okahandja Red Flag commemoration.