The spokesperson of the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority, Martin Matsuib, described the elections held for a new chief as invalid and not in accordance with their customary law.

Over the weekend, the Dâure Daman community in Uis held elections to choose a new leader to replace Chief Zacharias Seibeb, whose legitimacy had been disputed by some members.

The elections follow a letter issued by the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, directing the traditional council and the elders' council to revisit the chieftainship of Seibeb and implement the designation process in full compliance with Dâure Daman's customary law, ensuring transparency, legitimacy, and community consensus.

The letter pointed out that the chieftainship procedures did not adhere to the correct customary process.

According to Matsuib, the letter to Chief Seibeb seeks community engagement. 

"Why did the minister say it is not procedural? It's the first step where the sitting Gaob nominates his predecessor. Yeah, it was done. It was correct. The second step, where the elders' counsel had to endorse the nomination of the sitting Gaob, was done. It is correct. The third step, where this Goab, after being nominated and endorsed by the elders' council, should be brought before the community for community acceptance, was not done. That's what the recommendation of the minister was. So, the minister wrote back to the chief and said, 'Go and consult with your community. Go and consult and do this third step for community acceptance and report back to me'."

Matsuib said the removal of a chief can only occur through prescribed procedures, and only if the chief is deemed unfit due to illness, found guilty in court for criminal activities, or guilty of misconduct.

"While a traditional community and traditional authority function on a very different principle than a political party, where you hold elections regularly and choose people the way you want them. Those are the custodians of the customs and the norms and the values of the community, of a specific community. That consistency, that continuity, should be maintained. You do not choose this person today; get rid of that one and choose another one the next day. So that's what we need to teach our people to understand with regard to what a traditional community is."

Gaob Seibeb and his group will be conducting meetings in Uis on the 23rd, Ani≠gab on the 24th and Palmwag on the 25th of this month to engage, inform and educate the communities on the procedures.

Matsuib said the meetings will be attended by officials from the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and the Erongo governor's office.

Thereafter, a report will be compiled and submitted to Minister James Sankwasa.