Swakopmund – Namibian President Hage Geingob has expressed concern over the growing number of traditional authorities, succession battles, and disputes among these entities. In a speech delivered on his behalf at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Swakopmund on Monday, Geingob addressed these issues, highlighting their potential to create division and fragmentation in communities.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), the proliferation of traditional authorities and leadership disputes are contrary to the country’s ethos of ‘One Namibia, One Nation’. Geingob noted that these conflicts often involve the government, diverting time and resources from critical national issues such as combating poverty and disease. “Unfortunately, on numerous occasions, Government is dragged into the midst of these avoidable disputes, which not only causes divisions among communities but is also time-consuming,” he stated.
Geingob further expressed concern about the constant applications for recognition of new traditional authorities and leaders. He warned that accommodating these requests could lead to financial unsustainability and exacerbate tribal divisions within the Namibian House.
Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni, speaking at the same event, remarked that his ministry is increasingly allocating resources and time to investigate new applications for traditional authorities, a factor that hampers service delivery to communities.
Chief Immanuel |GSseb, Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders, urged traditional leaders to collaborate with various sectors to address pressing issues such as housing, water, and sanitation. These challenges significantly impact the rural poor and those in informal settlements.
The leader of the !Oe-#Gan Traditional Authority also called on traditional authorities to respect and abide by customary laws and to avoid resolving succession disputes in court. “It is best that these disputes are resolved through customary law. Court cases are the reasons some traditional authorities do not have chiefs to lead them and in the end, the administration of the traditional authorities become incomplete,” he said.
The week-long meeting serves as a platform for government and private sector stakeholders to engage with traditional leaders and review programs aimed at nation-building.