Traditional leadership of Namibia

Traditional leadership of Namibia is a governing structure in Namibia based on the ethnicity of the indigenous people of the territory. Acceptance of a traditional authority is vested in the Government of Namibia. There are 51 recognised traditional authorities and a further 40 pending applications.[1]

Justus ǁGaroëb, Gaob (king) of the Damara people, in 2016

Traditional authorities cover the entire Namibian territory. Leaders and their administrative staff are not paid by the state. Instead the traditional group's members are expected to sustain their leadership. Government did, however, give one car each to the recognised authorities, and awards allowances for fuel and administrative work. The parallel existence of traditional authorities and the Namibian government in Namibia is controversial.[1] The traditional rulers and leaders are represented through the Council of Traditional Leaders, established by Act 13 of 1997 (GG 1706) and amended by Act 31 of 2000 (GG 2462).[2]

Functions

Traditional leaders are entrusted with the allocation of communal land and the formulation of the traditional group's customary laws.[1]

They also take over judicial work through traditional courts, offering a way to access compensation through civil law that does not require fees or lawyers. Crime in Namibia is treated by the classical courts solely as a criminal procedure, and ends in punishment of the offender; To seek material compensation a civil case has to be opened after the criminal verdict. Traditional fines are thus, in the words of justice minister Yvonne Dausab, meant "to wipe off tears", and not to replace criminal proceedings.[3]

Typical punishments are in money or in livestock. For instance, the traditional courts of the Ovambo people in Namibia's north fine ten cows or 15,000N$ for murder, two cows or 3,000N$ for impregnating a child, and up to six cows for theft, depending on severity. The traditional court of the Oorlam people at Vaalgras in Namibia's south, where there are few communal cattle farmers, fines three goats for theft.[3]

Recognised traditional authorities
Traditional authority [1] Locale Current leader [1] and title
Mbunza Alfons Kaundu
Sambyu Angelina Matumbo Ribebe
Gciriku Ndiyona Constituency of the Kavango Region Hompa Kassain Shiyambi
Uukwangali Nkurenkuru Daniel Sitentu Mpasi
Mbukushu Erwin Mbambo Munika
Ondonga Onamungundo Ondangwa Elifas Shuumbwa Nangolo
Uukwaluudhi Tsandi Josia Shikongo Taapopi
Ongandjera Okahao Johannes Mupiya (since 2012)[4]
Uukwambi Elim Iipumbu Herman Iipumbu
Ombalantu Oswin Mukulu
Uukolonkandhi Daniel Shooya
Oukwanyama Ehole Martha Nelumbu
Ombandja Okalongo Matias Walaula
Subia Bukalo, Zambezi Region Kisco Liswani III
Mafwe Chinchimane, Zambezi Region[5] Gerge Simasiku Mamili
Mayeyi Boniface Lutibezi Shufu
Mashi Joseph Tembwe Mayuni
ǀGowanîn across the Kalahari Desert Gariseb Stefanus
ǀKhomanin in the Khomas Highland vacant
ǃOeǂGan of the Erongo Mountains, Usakos, and Ameib Immanuel ǂNu-axa
Tsoaxudaman along the Swakop River Betuel Haraseb
ǀGaiodaman along the Omuramba Omatako between Outjo and the Waterberg J M Haraseb
ǂAodaman between Kamanjab, Outjo and Otavi Ukongo Petrus
Dâuredaman Brandberg and vicinity Elias Taniseb
ǀKhowesin (Witbooi Nama) Gibeon[6] Christian Rooi (acting)
Bondelswarts vacant
Soromaas David Fredericks
Khaiǁkhaun (Red Nation) Hoachanas Petrus Simon Moses Kooper[7]
ǂAonin (Southern Topnaars) Rooibank and other settlements along the lower Kuiseb River Seth Kooitjie
Afrikaner vacant
ǁKhauǀgoan (Swaartbooi Nama) Rehoboth, Salem, Ameib, and Franzfontein[8] Daniel Luipert
Blouwes Blouwes vacant
Vaalgras Vaalgras Joel Stephanus
ǃKharakhoen (Fransman Nama) Amper-Bo[9] vacant

References
  1. Tjitemisa, Kuzeeko (18 November 2016). "Chiefs cost govt millions". New Era. p. 6. The list of currently recognised traditional authorities only appears in the print version.
  2. "Council of Traditional Leaders Act 13 of 1997 as amended by Council of Traditional Leaders Amendment Act 31 of 2000" (PDF). lac.org.na. Government of Namibia. 28 December 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  3. Ndeyanale, Eliaser; Vatileni, Eino (20 July 2022). "Traditional fines to be reviewed". The Namibian. p. 1.
  4. Ndeyanale, Eliaser (31 August 2023). "Man with albinism claims to be sidelined from Ongandjera throne". The Namibian. p. 1.
  5. Tashaya, Clemence (5 July 2011). "Mafwe prepares to celebrate their annual "Lusata" cultural festival". New Era via allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Alt URL
  6. Dedering, Tilman (1997). Hate the old and follow the new: Khoekhoe and missionaries in early nineteenth-century Namibia. Vol. 2 (Missionsgeschichtliches Archiv ed.). Franz Steiner Verlag. pp. 59–61. ISBN 978-3-515-06872-7. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  7. Cloete, Luqman (3 June 2019). "Govt does not contribute to Nama chief's funerals – chief Kooper". The Namibian.
  8. Malan, Johan S (1998). Die Völker Namibias [The Tribes of Namibia] (in German). Windhoek, Göttingen: Klaus Hess. pp. 120–125.
  9. Cloete, Luqman (2 February 2016). "ǃKhara-Khoen Nama sub-clan installs leader". The Namibian.
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