Renthia Kaimbi
A conflict within the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority has escalated into a stalemate, dividing a concerned community group and supporters of its chief, Zacharias Seibeb.
The dispute centres on allegations of financial mismanagement, legitimacy, and claims of procedural flaws at the ministerial level.
This followed after the government began the process to remove Seibeb as leader of the traditional authority.
The process has been initiated by Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa, who informed Seibeb of the decision in a letter dated 22 September 2025.
The deputy chairperson of the Dâure Daman Community Concerned Group, Cornelia Atjiwara, said their fight is about accountability.
She claimed that since 2019, the Seibeb has misled the clan, mismanaged funds from mining companies and conservancies, and governed with a small group of ungazetted councillors.
The group cites a petition with over 600 signatures and a clan-led vote of no confidence last year.
“The ministry is only de-gazetting the former chief; we had already removed him last year,” Atjiwara said.
She added that the Seibeb’s failure to communicate and distribute benefits from mining operations triggered the action.
The concerned group insists they will not stop until the Seibeb is degazetted, calling it a chance to “start afresh”.
Supporters of Seibeb rejected these claims. The senior traditional councillor Herman Ippin Naruseb said the process has been flawed from the start.
He confirmed that an investigation team was appointed but claimed that while both sides awaited feedback, the concerned group continued to send petitions.
He pointed to a June 2025 meeting between Sankwasa and the concerned group as one-sided.
“Sankwasa only invited the chief with previously gazetted councillors to a meeting without an agenda. Newly gazetted councillors were not invited. Sankwasa only heard one side of the story,” Naruseb said.
He alleged foul play in the ministry, claiming documents submitted by Seibeb’s side were lost.
“No wrongdoing was ever presented to the chief,” he said.
Naruseb also questioned the legitimacy of the concerned group.
“Most of the people in the concerned group did not even reside in Uis when the chief was coronated,” he said, adding that chieftaincy is a bloodline and not an elected office.
Naruseb warned that degazetting sets a dangerous precedent.
“We don’t have a problem with the removal of the chief, but we cannot entertain emotions where we have people saying, ‘Whether he is right or wrong, we don’t care; he must go,’” he said.
He said poor communication and limited representation worsened the situation, as the Seibeb was left with only two councillors across a vast area, which allowed misinformation about lithium mining to spread.
He criticises Sankwasa, saying he did not continue the work of his predecessor.
“He just met with the concerned group two weeks into office and came up with his own recommendations. Their allegations are baseless, and the minister is supporting this nonsense,” Naruseb said.
Naruseb fears the power struggle will drag on without dialogue, leaving the clan without representation.
“The minister must know when to intervene. It’s not always the ones who make the loudest noise that are correct.”
