A legal dispute is ongoing at the Windhoek High Court regarding the leadership of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority.

Vipuira Kapuuo, the Herero Chief of Ovitoto, has initiated a court challenge against Professor Mutjinde Katjiua’s claim to the position of Paramount Chief.

In court documents, Chief Kapuuo argues that, according to Ovaherero customary law, tradition, and protocol, the Chairperson of the Chief’s Council assumes the role of acting Paramount Chief upon the death or incapacitation of the current chief.

As the Chairperson of the Chief’s Council, Kapuuo asserts that he is the rightful acting Paramount Chief.

 He also claims that only the Chairperson has the authority to convene meetings of the Council, and therefore, he is requesting the court to declare a Chief’s Council meeting that occurred between December 10 and 12, 2021, at Onderombapa, Aminius, as unlawfully constituted.

This meeting, which he did not convene, allegedly endorsed Katjiua’s leadership. Kapuuo seeks to have all decisions made at that meeting reviewed, set aside, or declared null and void.