Fate of Acting Traditional Chiefs

BAB, //KHARAS WRITES:

It's really mind-boggling, regrettable and worrisome that both the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development is mum on the fate and future of Acting Traditional Chiefs in the country. Equally, should that blame be put in front of the doorstep of the Chairman of the Council of Traditional Leaders. In terms of Section 17 of the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000, which deals with the payment of allowances to traditional authorities. The latter Act needs a number of amendments, because along the sidelines you would hear that the Act doesn't make any provision for the position of an Acting Chief, which is anyway true. It was even clear during the visit of H.E. President Dr. Nangolo Mbumba to engage the traditional leadership in Keetmanshoop on the 4th April 2024. The Government is apparently concerned about the fact that so many chiefs were never replaced after the death of the former chiefs. Only four traditional authorities out of nine do have chiefs, but no drastic actions are being carried out to replace. There is even no clear-cut timeframe in which they should be replaced. However, the Government also has an understandable stance on that they don't want to interfere into personal affairs of traditional communities. That decision is apparently solely left into the hands of the respective traditional communities, but if they decide on a certain chief or head of a given traditional community the Government doesn't want to give recognition to those chiefs and this eventually leads to traditional disputes, divisions and squabbles within the communities. Just look at the practical examples of the Bondelswarts, Vaalgras, the !Ama community and /Howese community, just to mention but a few. The Government is giving too little respect or recognition to the Customary Laws and practices of the communities. That gives sufficient room for the communities to remain divided. During the aforesaid visit of the President, he pointed out that a chief would be very lucky to get recognition out of his hands during his acting tenure of office. At times it appears that we are enjoying the status quo. Are there not enough checks and balances or who is checking who in order to amend the regulatory governing laws to fill these gaps. Why should the replacement of chiefs always go to the High Court, which the poor communities can barely afford? Even a clear directive from the Ministry is enough, before illegal decisions are being taken by the traditional authorities that would hurt the subjects, because illegal meetings are being held at which illegal decisions are being taken etc.