Uukwambi royal family calls for restoration of kingship, vacant since 1932 under colonial rule The Uukwambi royal family is calling for the restoration of kingship, saying the position has remained vacant since colonial rule. The Uukwambi last had a chief in 1932 after chief Iipumbu ya Tshilongo was abducted by South African authorities. They are now under the chieftanship of Herman Iipumbu, who yesterday told The Namibian he has been at the helm of the traditional authority for 40 years. Johaness Tshalonda, who claims to be a member of the royal family, yesterday said although the family wants the Uukwambi to have a chief, they are not pushing for Iipumbu’s removal. “He is our family member. He is our father. Silas Iipumbu was my grandfather and we are not saying he should be removed. We are saying the vacant position of a king that exists in Uukwambi should be filled. “We are a peaceful group. We are not terrorists. We want the king to be installed peacefully, and we are going to discuss it with chief Iipumbu,” he said. Tshalonda said the family had written a letter to Iipumbu. Uukwambi Royal Council chairperson Anna Festus in a statement says Uukwambi headmen are from Iipumbu ya Tshilongo’s bloodline. “We thus regard the restoration of the Uukwambi kingship to be long overdue after more than 35 years of independence from colonial rule.” Festus also addresses the controversy surrounding a planned event in August 2024 at Okakango Ka Abed Ha Kandongo, which was intended to commemorate the 1932 bombing of Iipumbu’s palace. “It is important to emphasise that the commemoration was meant to be a family event and not an Aakwambi event,” the release states. According to Festus, they invited the Uukwambi Traditional Authority (UTA) to attend the commemorative event. However, the authority declined the invitation, citing a prior commitment to a Roman Catholic Church centennial event at Oshikuku. The UTA also took legal action to stop the event. “The Uukwambi royal family nevertheless proceeded with preparations, only to be issued a letter from Sisa Namandje lawyers, threatening to get a court interdict prohibiting further attempts to go ahead with the preparations.” The case ended up in court, where a ruling favoured the UTA. The royal family was ordered to pay legal costs, which they say have been “fully settled”. The UTA in court documents accuses the royal family of attempting to “illegally appoint and install the king for Uukwambi” and claims the event could incite violence. The family dismisses the allegations as “fabrications”. “Even though the invitation to the Okakango Ka Abed Ha Kandongo event to UTA came from the royal family, they opted to take individuals to court, arguing they unlawfully represent the Uukwambi traditional community.” Iipumbu declined to comment on the matter yesterday. The post Uukwambi royal family calls for restoration of kingship, vacant since 1932 under colonial rule appeared first on The Namibian.

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