The killing of an Otjinene resident has reignited long-forgotten tribal tensions in the community.

The region's political leadership has denied the existence of tribal tensions, while community members, in videos capturing the event and shared on social media, point to ethnic conflict and incitement of violence against certain tribal groups.

The regional political leadership has urged locals to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, as threats have been issued against some sections of the community.

Several social media platforms have also been abuzz with reports of alleged tribal conflict brewing in Otjinene village.

Makeshift structures belonging to vendors, believed to be operating illegally on the streets of Otjinene, have been burnt down.

The vendors are accused of criminal acts, primarily livestock theft.

Although a fight that led to one death appears to have taken on a tribal dimension, it is not related to tribal tensions but rather a street fight among young people.

The suspect in the murder case has been arrested. The community demonstrated at the Magistrate’s Court in Otjinene, demanding that no bail be granted to the suspect, and handed over a petition to a court official.

In an effort to diffuse the situation, Omaheke Region Governor Pijoo Nganate pleaded with local community members in Otjinene to control their emotions and not to view every conflict through tribal lenses.

He called on them to give law enforcement a chance to handle the situation.

"I would also like to pray with you now that you have given your petition to the law enforcement officers for all of us to abide by the law and not break the law. We can't take the law into our own hands. As much as it is heartbreaking, as much as it is painful, we must trust our law enforcement officers, courts, and prosecutors that they will do justice because that's what they are appointed for."

On his part, the Otjinene constituency councillor, Erwin Katjizeu, refuted and condemned what has been dubbed on social media as a tribal conflict between the Ovaherero and Aawambo communities in Otjinene.

Katjizeu added that Otjinene is a peaceful constituency where people of all backgrounds coexist harmoniously.

"I'm so disappointed by the newspapers that are not in Otjinene but that are here writing that we have a tribal conflict, which is not the case. This is not a case about Awambo and Ovaherero; this is a conflict between those people who have committed this gruesome murder of Gift Kaunuua and not between any tribes."

The leader of one of the Ovaherero factions, Dr. Hoze Riruako, appealed to the Otjinene community to calm down, warning that the situation has the potential to spiral out into violence.