San community calls for removal of chief
OUTJO - Nearly 300 members from the Hai//om San community in the Kunene, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Erongo regions yesterday held a peaceful demonstration at Outjo, demanding the removal of their traditional authority council and its operations.
The group spokesperson, Leon /Aib read the petition of the aggrieved community members and handed it over to the Outjo constituency office’s Control Administrator, Helmut Fillemon who is expected to deliver it to the line Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.
In their petition, the community members called on government to remove from the government gazette the entire Hai//om traditional authority council and its Chief David Khamuxab claiming that they have failed to promote peace and to take care of the welfare of the community.
They also accused the chief of misusing the trust fund as well as the money which was generated from the fishing quota partnerships.
“The composition of his traditional leadership is just
from his close relatives,” they further alleged.
The community members now want government to replace the chief with a competent team of the Hai//om San people who have an interest in community development.
In response to the issues raised by the community, Chief Khamuxab told Nampa that he does not know what vendetta the community members hold against him, as he is trying to be as transparent as possible in his traditional administrations.
“I suspect there is a political party behind them, as all those people who want me out, are my cousins, nephews and
grandchildren,” he said.
He explained that the N$300 000 which was received from the fishing quota partnerships in 2018, 2019 and 2020 by the traditional authority, was fairly distributed according to the needs of the community.
Khamuxab further said his administration will wait to receive the petition of the disgruntled community members so that the traditional authority council can read it and clear its position through the media.
Chief Khamuxab has been a recognised traditional leader by government since July 2004.