Renthia Kaimbi
The government has begun the process to remove Chief Zacharias Seibeb as leader of the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority after years of internal dispute.
Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa informed Seibeb of the decision in a letter dated 22 September 2025.
The correspondence, seen by the Windhoek Observer, states that the ministry has “commenced with the degazetting process” against the chief.
The move, authorised under section 8(1) of the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000, would strip Seibeb of official state recognition.
The letter referred to a consultative meeting held on 5 June 2025 to address the “long outstanding dispute” between the Traditional Authority Council and a concerned community faction.
Sankwasa said the government’s patience for a resolution had run out.
Seibeb has rejected the minister’s decision, describing it as an act of bad faith. On Monday, he submitted detailed reports to the ministry, but shortly after, they issued the dethronement letter.
“I want to ask the minister why my chieftaincy was gazetted in the first place if I was not legitimate,” he said, noting that he was officially recognised in 2018.
He denied accusations of financial mismanagement, noting that investigations by the ministry had previously found no evidence against him.
He said that when he was coronated, no active bank accounts existed in the name of the Traditional Authority, and he was not a signatory on any accounts.
Seibeb also dismissed claims that he accepted bribes from Chinese or other business interests in exchange for land or mining consent.
“Usually, councillors would engage the business community and debrief me afterwards. And if I agreed to something on that basis, I would put my signature on it. The notion that I receive bribes from Chinese business people is false,” Seibeb said.
He said that his councillors have turned against him, siding with the faction that elected Issakar Tourob as a rival chief in June.
Seibeb said he is yet to formally respond to the minister but plans to challenge the decision in court.
“I am yet to respond to the minister that I am not happy with his decision, but in my case, his say will not be final,” he said.
The move is a victory for community elders who have long contested Seibeb’s leadership. Since his coronation in 2018, dissenters have accused him of financial mismanagement, poor consultation, and failing to bring development to Uis.
The elders declared him removed in November 2024 and, following the minister’s recommendation, elected Tourob as chief in June 2025.
At the core of the dispute is the legitimacy of Seibeb’s appointment. He was nominated by the late chief Elias Taniseb, but the protesting faction, supported by the minister’s findings, argues the nomination was never ratified by the wider community, which is required under customary law.
For months, the Traditional Authority dismissed the elders’ actions as illegitimate and maintained that Seibeb was the rightful leader.
The de-gazetting process is a formal administrative act that, if completed, will remove Seibeb’s recognition as chief. Sankwasa’s letter concluded with a request for Seibeb’s “understanding and cooperation.”
