Traditional Disputes: The Great Leap Backwards

WHAT’S causing all the disputes among traditional authorities?

Why do some with political influence or former politicians suddenly show so much interest in the affairs of traditional authorities or want to become chiefs and kings themselves?
I raise these questions because I believe that the political campaign to transform traditional authorities into remote-controlled grassroots political authorities is succeeding. The real losers are their followers as well as the true values of the entire traditional leadership system which are thrown into complete disarray.
In recent years many traditional authorities have descended into politically motivated, energy-sapping and useless leadership fights.
In most instances, it is clear that party-political divisions, which started before Namibia’s Independence, have continued to divide traditional communities.
In the colonial era many traditional authorities were headed by people appointed by the political masters while a few were legitimately chosen by their communities. Their roles were mainly to ensure that their followers support the government of the day.
As a result many communities had self-proclaimed kings or chiefs lording it over people who had no chance of getting rid of them even when they were failing in their duties.
At Independence the Namibian Government had to decide how involved traditional authorities would be in the running of the State; who the legitimate traditional leaders were and whether such leaders should be paid for their roles in running rural areas.
The Council of Traditional Leaders was set up to help the Government with identifying the traditional authorities which need recognition as well as to assist in the affairs of rural communities such as land administration.
But while Government had all the good intentions to give traditional authorities more play in the running of the country’s affairs, political apparatchiks, who realised what kind of powers traditional leaders had over their communities, started interfering to rule indirectly. They want people whom they can influence at the helm.
That is why we see so many unending disputes among the Damara, Nama, Ovambanderu and even the Ondonga communities.
Certain traditional leaders, those aspiring for leadership, retired politicians as well as others who had good standing in society, claim to be the people’s representatives and heirs to thrones while they were never around or seen to promote the interests of the people they now want to rule.
In some cases several of these prospective leaders have managed to claim autonomy from the existing structures and, worst of all, Government has recognised them because they have cronies in key positions. There are also people who go around proclaiming that the existing leadership worked with the apartheid regime in the colonial era.
Such moves make one wonder what has happened to national reconciliation. And should political affiliation still play a role in the determination of traditional leadership of today?
What has happened to members of the community who themselves should be deciding on who should lead them?
It is high time that people are given the opportunity to elect their traditional leaders directly.
And because leadership cannot be faked, those who want to take up positions only for the sake of renumeration should know that telling half-truths are reserved for politicians, as they have mastered this art.
As things are at the moment, the recognition and empowering of traditional leaderships, even though they were initially for the best of intentions and to promote democracy, have become a great leap backward.
There is, however, enough time to change its course. But first, keep politics out of it. Let the people decide who should lead them.