The Hambukushu Community in the Kavango East Region's Mukwe Constituency is against the designation of a Khwe Chief at Bwabwata National Park.

This comes after the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, approved the appointment of a Khwe Chief.

In a letter dated March 8, 2024, the Urban and Rural Development Minister wrote to the office of the Prime Minister granting permission to the Khwe community to initiate the designation process, following the endorsement by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism and the office of the Zambezi Regional Governor.

Now the Hambukushu community is calling on the Office of the President to condemn what they referred to as an illegal act taken by Uutoni, which they claim will lead to conflict and division among the Khwe and Hambukushu people. 

The Hambukushu community says they were not consulted on the latest development by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.  

They are unhappy that the ministry has approved the Khwe traditional authority in their gazetted traditional authority.

The Governor of the Kavango East Region, Bonifatiuse Wakudumo, refused to sign the letter, stating the land is already under traditional authority.

However, the Governor of the Zambezi Region, Lawrence Sampofu, signed an agreement for the designation of the Khwe Chief.

Furthermore, during the meeting, the Chairperson of Kavango East Regional Council Damian Maghambayi said the regional leadership will not allow other regions to encroach on Kavango East.