Chief Vipuira Kapuuo says that not all members of the six-member transitional committee were chiefs of the Ovaherero people, nor were they councillors, and they did not form part of the Ovaherero leadership hierarchy.

He explains that the transitional committee, chaired by one of the claimants to the Paramount Chief title, Professor Mutjinde Katjiua, did not have the authority to appoint a Paramount Chief and therefore had no official powers.

A meeting of Ovaherero chiefs, chaired by Professor Mutjinde Katjiua, voted by round-robin that the transitional committee established after the death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro should manage the affairs of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority until a new Paramount Chief is elected.

The transitional committee reportedly took issue with Chief Kapuuo referring to himself as acting Paramount Chief and decided to let the chiefs vote on whether Chief Kapuuo should continue in that role or whether the committee led by Katjiua would handle the affairs of the OTA.

According to Chief Kapuuo, the committee was formed solely to arrange the funeral of the late Ovaherero chief. He stated that any letter signed by Professor Katjiua or any meeting called by him was invalid, as all formal communication should go through Kapuuo’s office. He further accused the committee, whose only task was to arrange Rukoro’s burial, of attempting to usurp power.

Chief Vipuira Kapuuo is currently being cross-examined by advocate Albert Strydom.