Traditional leadership of Namibia

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

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]

Traditional authorities cover the entire Namibian territory. Their leaders are entrusted with the allocation of communal land and the formulation of the traditional group's customary laws. They also take over minor judicial work. 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]

Recognised traditional authorities[]

Traditional authority [1] Locale Current leader [1] and title
Mbunza
Gciriku Ndiyona Constituency of the Kavango Region Hompa
Uukwangali Nkurenkuru Daniel Sitentu Mpasi
Mbukushu
Ondonga Onamungundo Ondangwa
Uukwaluudhi Tsandi
Ongandjera Okahao
Uukwambi Elim
Ombalantu
Oukwanyama Martha Nelumbu
Okalongo
Masubia Bukalo, Zambezi Region
Mafwe Chinchimane, Zambezi Region[3]
Mayeyi
across the Kalahari Desert
in the Khomas Highland vacant
of the , Usakos, and
along the Swakop River
along the between Outjo and the Waterberg J M Haraseb
between Kamanjab, Outjo and Otavi
Brandberg and vicinity
ǀKhowesin (Witbooi Nama) Gibeon[4] (acting)
Bondelswarts vacant
Khaiǁkhaun (Red Nation) Hoachanas [5]
ǂAonin (Southern Topnaars) and other settlements along the lower Kuiseb River
Afrikaner[which?] vacant
(Swaartbooi Nama) Rehoboth, , , and [6]
Blouwes vacant
Vaalgras
(Fransman Nama) [7] vacant

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Cloete, Luqman (3 June 2019). "Govt does not contribute to Nama chief's funerals – chief Kooper". The Namibian.
  6. ^ Malan, Johan S (1998). Die Völker Namibias [The Tribes of Namibia] (in German). Windhoek, Göttingen: Klaus Hess. pp. 120–125.
  7. ^ Cloete, Luqman (2 February 2016). "ǃKhara-Khoen Nama sub-clan installs leader". The Namibian.
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