Stefanus Nashama
The head of Ngoma Royal House has rejected the involvement of Chief Munitenge Nkonkwena from the Masubia tribe in Botswana in the process of the succession of the Namibian Masubia Traditional Authority chieftainship position.
The Masubia people have been without a leader since the passing of Chief Munitenge Kisco Liswani III in 2021.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, by the head of Ngoma Royal House, Prince Bartholomew S. Maiba, seen by the Windhoek Observer, Maiba explained why Nkonkwena’s involvement was not in line with the processes of succession according to their customs.
Maiba said the intervention from Chief Nkonkwena was unreasonable while there are cousins in Namibia who are in a better position to intervene.
“We are amazed that Chief Nkonkwena from Botswana is brought in to help in the process of succession, leaving the descendants of late Chief Ntolwa in the region who are cousins to both Munitenge Nkonkwena and the two siblings of the late Chief Muraliswani I at Mahundu. The descendants of the late Chief Ntolwa in the Zambezi region and Munitenge Nkonkwena in Botswana come from one stem. We wonder why the honourable minister is asking a cousin in Botswana to come and help, leaving cousins in Namibia,” Maiba stated.
The fight for the succession of the Masubia chieftainship comes after the death of Liswani III.
Last year, Uutoni wrote to Masubia Traditional Community Head Princess, Sinte Maiba, informing her about the outcome of the ministerial investigations into the chieftainship succession dispute, which was carried out between December 5 to 18, 2022, and May 15 to 20, 2023.
Uutoni explained that the investigating committee revealed that, according to the ministry’s observations, the dispute erupted due to the absence of a Natamoyo in the Masubia Traditional Authority, who is mandated to initiate the first Royal Family’s meeting after the death of the chief and spearhead discussions related to chieftainship succession.
The Masubia Royal Family is divided into four Royal Houses, namely the Mahundu, Kasika, Ngoma, and Bukalo.
According to their customs, each house must agree on one candidate.
Uutoni said the rightful heirs to the throne are Princesses Sehwe and Sinte Maiba, who are not able to ascend to the throne due to their ill health.
Uutoni further stated that the two Princesses are the authorized Royal Council members Kaziba Kabusimwine of the Masubia Royal Family to designate a chief in consultation with their cousin Munitenge Moffat Nkonkwena Sinvula Maiba, who reigns in Botswana, and other elders in the royal family.
“Out of the four applicants, two applicants, Mr Gilbert Muhongo Mutwa and Mr Trevor Chiswaniso Maiba are from the patrimonial lineage, while the other two applicants, Mr James Kabati and Mr Frederick Nalisa-Nalisa, are from the matrimonial lineage,” he said.
Prince Maiba of Ngoma claimed Chief Nkonkwena played a devastating role in the whole succession process.
“He was involved in the initial nomination of Mr. Nalisa Fredrick Nalisa, the first choice of the two Princesses at Ibozu lya Nsala. He was again involved in choosing Mr. James Kabati Maiba on January 1, 2022, and by May 2023 he shifted to Prince Trevor Chiswaniso Maiba,” she said.
To their surprise, Munitenge Nkonkwena installed his son as his successor in Botswana without involving the two Princesses in Namibia or any other member of the royal family.
“Why is he then being roped in here to cause further division to the extent that our Namibian government is dancing to his tunes? The government is not aware that the idea of blocking the rightful heir to the throne is going to badly divide the Masubia tribe and make it a divided community. The community knows people behind all this, and, regrettably, even the government is not taking this seriously,” said Prince Maiba.
According to Prince Maiba, the two Princesses referred to by the minister are from Mahundu Royal Village, whose village headman is Prince Bartholomew Maiba Sinvula, who has never been consulted about all succession proceedings.
“According to our tradition, the village headman is the head of that particular village and should be respected and involved in all matters pertaining to the village issues. It is an abomination in our culture to undermine the head of the village and the one who traditionally succeeded his father as the head of Mahundu Royal Village. He should be considered as the head of the entire family of the late Chief Sinvula Muraliswani I at Mahundu Royal Village,” he explained.
Prince Maiba said the Royal Council had failed to nominate one prince, and when they brought two or three candidates, it was no longer in the hands of the Royal Council but with the Masubia leadership.
“This process is followed because the Chief is not coming to rule an individual Royal House that is bent on imposing their candidate on the community,” he said.
“According to the Customary Law, Volume 1 of 2010, it is stated that ‘By Traditional Law, the Masubia are a Patrimonial society. Thus, the family heritage is administered by the male side of the family lineage,’” Uutoni explained last year.
Zambezi Governor Lawrence Sampofu on Monday said there is nothing to fight about Masubia chieftainship.
He also said he was not authorized to comment on the Masubia leadership.
“I do not have authority to comment on the Masubia things. Call them and find out what the matter is. I can’t comment on their behalf,” he said.
Sampofu has been CC’d in both letters referred to herein.
