Staff Writer
Stalemate, is how the situation can appropriately be described regarding the commitment to eternal earth of both the Paramount Chief (PC) of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro, and liberation petitioning stalwart, Mburumba Kerina.
Both are destined for the burial at Ovaherero Heroes and Heroines’ Acre in Okahandja. PC Rukoro naturally as has been the tradition for many years pre-colonial with the likes of Tjamuaha and Maharero laid to rest in Okahandja. And in later years Samuel Maharero since 1923 with the re-interment of his remains from Botswana.
With late Kerina this is by his own wishes being first among petitioning envoys sent by erstwhile Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Hosea Kutako to the UN to join others to petition for the relinquish by Apartheid South Africa of Namibia as a League of Nations trustee. To be in his final resting place at the foot of his protégé, Kutako. This is exactly the bone of contention among the Ovaherero with some maintaining that Kerina was not a Paramount Chief, or Chief for that matter and therefore not disserving of being laid in this particular shrine. While some are of the view that as a confidante aide of Kutako, his wish must be granted.
Matters were deteriorating by close of business earlier today into a legal tussle with the Secretary of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), as Chair of the Transitional Committee, Mutjinde Katjiua, and on behalf of the OTA, having approached the legal firm, Dr Weder, Kauta and Hoveka Inc., to stop Kapuuo from allowing the burial of Kerina in the said shrine. Kapuuo was implored to answer by 17H00 this afternoon.
Kapuuo, who is the Chairperson of the Ovaherero Chief Council and Senate, and who recently proclaimed himself the Acting Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero, has approved the burial of Kerina in the said Ovaherero shrine.
Late Kerina has been destined to be paid to rest this Sunday at the shrine with the necessary arrangement being made like preparing to the tomb, while the date of the burial of the Ovaherero Paramunt Chief is yet to be confirmed officially whether it is on 18 July as the OTA has requested, or next weekend of July 10-11.
