Damaras Split Over ‘People’s House’ Hand Over At Okombahe

Adam Hartman

10 June 2011

Okombahe — What was supposed to be an act of unity and solidarity yesterday with the handing over of the ‘Damara People’s House’ in Okombahe by the Namibian Government to the !Oë â‰Gân Traditional Authority, ended in a further split between the Damara community.

The ownership of the ‘People’s House’ has been a bone of contention between the Damara King’s Council of Justus //Garoëb and the !Oë â‰Gân Traditional Authority under Immanuel /Gâseb for many years. Both leaders claim to be the rightful ‘Gaob’ (king) of the Damaras.

Yesterday’s hand-over of the house was officiated by Erongo Governor, Cleophas Mutjavikua on behalf of Government, who called the event a “milestone” and a “good idea” for the people of Okombahe and for the Erongo Region, and urged /Gâseb to use it to uplift the community.

Councillor of the Daures Constituency in Erongo, Ernst Katjiku, said “We must remember though, the !Oë â‰Gân are only the caretakers of this house, not the owners. It belongs to all the people of this constituency regardless of religious or political affiliation. Let us all enjoy it,” he said.

During his turn, /Gâseb said Government “saw it fit” to hand the house over to the !Oë â‰Gân Traditional Authority.

“Now we have the duty to manage and maintain the house in the best interest of the community. I want to make it very clear though that this house shall remain a home for all Damaras. Okombahe is in !Oë â‰Gân Traditional Authority jurisdiction, and is also the capital of the Damaras. The same must apply to this house,” he said.

He said the “achievement of the !Oë â‰Gân is the achievement of all the Damara people”.

“I have a dream. I want to see a united Damara people. I am ready to board the train to Damara unity,” he concluded.

These sentiments were however not shared by all the Damaras – even by some in Okombahe. In fact, a protest is scheduled to be staged next week in Okombahe.

“This house belongs to all the Damaras. It was built by our King, Justus Garoëb; not just the !Oë â‰Gân or /Gâseb,” said an incensed inhabitant of Okombahe.

Chairperson of //Garoëb’s Kings Council Asset Committee, Elifas //Khoaseb told The Namibian yesterday that Kings Council “condemned” the handover of People’s House to /Gâseb “because [/Gâseb] is not the king”.

“He is only the chief of the !Oë â‰Gân ethnic group,” said //Khoaseb. “The house does not just belong to him or the !Oë â‰Gân Traditional Authority – it belongs to the entire Damara nation.”

According to him, the matter will be challenged in the High Court.

He said the house has been managed by the King’s Council for the past 25 years; in fact, the building was inaugurated by Garoëb in 1986.

“What happened yesterday, was stealthy. We were not informed of the official handing over – nor was our opinion sought in the matter. We are demanding Government to withdraw this gesture,” he said.

According to him, the King’s Council was only alerted to the event the night before (Wednesday-night) – “by sms”.

AllAfrica – All the Time