High Court to settle CECT power dispute

Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust (CECT) in Kachikau is embroiled an internal bickering with some concerned members of the Trust filing an urgent court application in an attempt to oust the existing board.

In a case that is to be heard before Maun High Court next week Monday, the concerned group wants the current board to be forcefully removed from office through a court order as it has refused to do so when it was voted out on the 12th day of March, 2022 through a motion of no confidence by members at the general meeting held in Kachikau village.

Allegedly the board, led by Poni Shamukuni, who has been cited as the first respondent in the court case, was removed from office by a faction of the Trust over alleged misuse of funds among other concerns.

Nonetheless, Shamukuni said in an interview this week that the said meeting was unconstitutional and, his board that includes eight other members, is still in office until May or June when their term will be coming to an end.

“The authentic board was elected from their respective villages and if there are any concerns about the board, then, procedure has to be followed accordingly. We are aware of the court order and we will be in court on Monday to defend our stand,” said Shamukuni.

The embattled Shamukuni further stated that his board was not refusing to leave office, but wants things to be done the right way so that they can hand over to the new board, which will be elected constitutionally. “Our accounts have to be audited before we hand them over to a new board, which is yet to be elected as our term has not yet come to an end.”

CECT is a community development trust that covers five villages in the Chobe District being; Parakarungu, Satau, Kachikau, Kavimba and Mabele.

Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa has ordered Shamukuni’s board to come to court on Monday to show cause why it should not be ordered that the matter be declared urgent and the board elected on the 12th declared as the lawful board of the said Trust.

“The rule nisi does issue calling upon the respondents to show cause if any on or about Monday the 11th, 2022 at 8:30 on why it should not be ordered that the 1st to 9th respondents be and are hereby interdicted from acting as applicants (CBCT) board of trustees as well as from representing the applicant in any capacity whatsoever and are hereby removed as signatories to the applicant’s bank accounts,” ruled Nthomiwa.