Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA)

OTA poised for another Paramount Chief

OTA poised for another Paramount Chief

Staff Writer The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) is poised for another and second Paramount Chief (PC) with the elections scheduled tomorrow in Otjimbingue. This is after another group last year already elected and inaugurated in the same position, Mutjinde Katjiua, to replace the late late Vekuii Rukoro. The OTA calls its chief Paramount Chief, which is permissible in terms of the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000, for any authority to call its leader by her/his preferred title. But in terms of the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000, the OTA chief is equal to all chiefs of other traditional authorities recognised…
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Government impounds OTA vehicle

Staff Writer The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) today handed over the government vehicle that was allocated to the traditional authority to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, after the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) instructed the Namibian Police to confiscate the vehicle. According to the OTA, MURD opened a case with the Namibia police. “A case number CR23/04/22 has been opened with Namibian Police with the charge; Use of vehicle without owner consent. When asked who the owner is the police stated that the case was opened by the MURD,” said the OTA. Daniel Nghidinua, the ministry’s…
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No peace in OvaHerero house

No peace in OvaHerero house

Staff Writer The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) group in favour of Mutjinde Katjiua who lost his court battle for the supremacy of the authority against the chairman of OTA, Vipuira Kapuuo has vowed that the battle is not over. They pledged to continue fighting for the interest of the Ovaherero people. The group said this in a statement shortly after the High Court dismissed an urgent application in which Katjiua interdicted Kapuuo not to interfere with the running of OTA. The application was removed from the court roll and Katjiua was order to pay Kapuuo’s legal costs, including one instructing…
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OTA, NTLA, LPM, Nudo and IPC reiterate Joint Declaration rejection chorus

OTA, NTLA, LPM, Nudo and IPC reiterate Joint Declaration rejection chorus

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Four political parties and Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) as well as the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA), have repeated their chorus rejection of the Joint Declaration at a media conference at the Ovaherero Commando Hall. The OTA and NTLA repeated this chorus together with the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), and the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). Nudo’s, Ester Muinjangue as well as the other political and local representatives maintained their position and shared their sentiments on the reconciliation deal and the way forward. “We are jointly rejecting the Joint German-Namibia Declaration which…
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Isaack, Katjiua to spearhead NTLA/OTA genocide reparation operations

Isaack, Katjiua to spearhead NTLA/OTA genocide reparation operations

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Nama Traditional Leaders' Association (NTLA) and the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) through its Transitional Committee (TC),has appointed Nama Traditional Leaders' Association( NTLA) Chief and Chairman, Gaob Johannes Isaack, as a substantive litigant and Chairperson in the Ovaherero - Nama joint genocide reparation campaign and litigation, with OTAs Secretary, Mutjinde Katjiua deputising him. “Professor Mutjinde Katjiua is appointed and endorsed as the Co-Litigant and Deputy Chairperson on behalf of the Ovaherero community, thus will henceforth deputize Gaob isaack in all matters of genocide reparation campaign and litigation,” a joint NTLA and OTA statement reads. In the statement, the…
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Rukoro and Ngavirue’s deaths could delay agreement

Rukoro and Ngavirue’s deaths could delay agreement

Andrew Kathindi The deaths of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro’s and Government Special Envoy on Genocide, Dr Zedekia Ngavirue, could delay the agreement the Namibian government and its German counterpart have crafted, analysts think. Rukoro died last Friday after a short illness with COVID-19 while Ngavirue died Thursday morning of a similar affliction. Historian Juergen Zimmerer thinks that Rukoro’s death could further be impacting the agreement in which the government of the Federal Republic of Germany is bidding to help victim communities of the 1904-1908 genocide of the Ovaherero and Nama with development projects as a means of atonement. This…
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Government, OTA love-hate tiff refuses to subside

Government, OTA love-hate tiff refuses to subside

Staff Writer The love-hate tiff between the Government and the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), a factor of the negotiations for Genocide, Apology and Reparations between the Namibian government and its German counterpart in which the OTA has not been part of, seems to be continuing, spilling over into the death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, and his funeral arrangements. The Government and the OTA has as yet to reach a compromise over the burial of Rukoro, on whom the President, Dr Hage Geingob, on the recommendation of the Honours Conferment Advisory Committee has conferred a State Funeral. The OTA…
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OTA appoints Transitional Committee

OTA appoints Transitional Committee

Staff Writer Following the sudden death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) has appointed a Transitional Committee assuming all the functions of the Paramount Chief. The Committee, appointed on Saturday, consists of three chiefs and four former advisers of the late paramount chief. The three chiefs are Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto, Boas Tjingaete of Otjombinde and Rehabeam Rukambe of Okamatapati. The advisers are Mac Hengari, Amon Ngarite, Laurencia Katjitai and OTA Secretary, Mutjinde Katjiua. The chairperson of the OTA Genocide Committee, Nandiuasora Mazeingo, is an ex-officio member of the transitional committee. Katjiua will chair the…
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Genocide reparations case cost millions

Genocide reparations case cost millions

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) has revealed that it and the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) has forked out million in legal fees over that past 20 years in their legal fight to compel Germany to pay reparations for the genocide committed against the tribe from 1904-08. Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, in an interview with the Windhoek Observer, although tight lipped on the exact amount, said “the cost of taking the German government to court in New York and litigating that case all the way to the highest court in the United States is indeed…
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