The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has called on traditional authorities to stop infighting that is creating disunity, which goes against what traditional authorities stand for. 

"When you are busy fighting for chieftainship, which is squabbles, it's the community and the land that suffer. Such squabbles make land grabbing unabated. Traditionally and legally, the chief has the authority to be the custodian of communal land. In the absence of a chief, who becomes the custodian of that land? Ask yourself that question."

Sankwasa said infighting has been rife in the Zambezi and Kavango regions. 

"We have attended to two of the squabbles for the Ukwangali and of the Masubia authority. My findings from both of these are that it was a deliberate violation of tradition and culture by individuals. Individuals within these communities decided to disrespect the laid-down customs and traditional values in the name of democracy." 

The minister appealed to the traditional leaders, saying they have a duty to ensure traditional cultures and customs remain in place. 

He, however, warned against biased decisions often taken by some traditional leaders which damage the reputation of traditional authorities. 

"It's because of wrong or incorrect decisions that are influenced by corruption that you find citizens taking traditional authorities to court, and when it goes to court, it exposes you as a traditional leader that was biased and that you were corrupted." 

Sankwasa was talking at the opening of a week-long legal framework workshop for traditional authorities, the council of traditional leaders and secretaries of traditional authorities from Kavango East at Rundu.