Also known as: Spokesperson of the Ondonga Traditional Authority Frans Enkali
Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson who discusses customary law alignment with Namibia's no-fault divorce legislation.
News reports
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The Namibian
Frans Enkali says changing gender roles, financial independence and domestic violence are influencing how people view marriage
“Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says changing gender roles, financial independence and domestic violence may be influencing how people view marriage.”
All the single menThe Namibian
Acting Tsumeb Municipality chief executive officer Frans Enkali declined to comment on the matter
“Acting Tsumeb Municipality chief executive officer Frans Enkali declined to comment on the matter.”
Tsumeb municipality to appeal N$108 000 labour awardNew Era
Frans Enkali warned that blindly adopting foreign practices could erode Namibia's cultural identity
“Enkali warned that blindly adopting foreign practices could erode Namibia's cultural identity and urged communities to preserve their traditions instead of replacing them with imported customs.”
Church, traditional leaders reject candle for the dead … ‘adopting foreign practices could erode Namibia’s identity’Windhoek Observer
Tsumeb's acting chief executive officer Frans Enkali stated such a tender was not discussed, advertised, or awarded
“Enkali went further, warning that the town's political climate has become increasingly destructive and is chasing away potential investors who might otherwise contribute to the local economy.”
Tsumeb councillor denies soliciting N$80 000 to award housing tenderWindhoek Observer
Frans Enkali was appointed in 2024 on a three-month contract to oversee recruitment of a permanent CEO
“Enkali, a retired chief regional officer of the Oshikoto region, was appointed in 2024 on what was supposed to be a three-month contract to oversee the recruitment of a permanent CEO.”
Tsumeb CEO appointment still in limbo despite Sankwasa’s approvalThe Namibian
Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says traditional authorities deal with cases involving violence regardless of victim or perpetrator gender
“Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says traditional authorities deal with cases involving violence regardless of whether the victim or perpetrator is a man or woman.”
Culture, apartheid force men to suffer silently – traditional leadersThe Namibian
Frans Enkali says customary authorities traditionally did not focus on determining blame when marriage ended
“Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says customary authorities traditionally did not focus on determining who was to blame when a marriage ended.”
Traditional leaders weigh in on divorce lawThe Namibian
Frans Enkali says customary divorce systems distinguished between jointly acquired and inherited property
“Enkali says customary divorce systems have also long distinguished between assets acquired jointly during a marriage and property inherited through family lineages.”
Traditional leaders weigh in on divorce lawThe Namibian
Frans Enkali says fines still apply and all eight Aawambo traditional authorities have agreed on uniform penalties
“Asked about the traditional law's approach today, Enkali says fines still apply and all eight Aawambo traditional authorities have agreed on uniform penalties for those who find themselves on the other side of this law.”
Evolving Views on Out-of-wedlock PregnancyNew Era
Frans Enkali acknowledged cremation may occur with family consent
“Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali said cremation is traditionally not practised among his people but acknowledged that it may occur with family consent.”
To cremate or not … funeral expensive, undertakers feel threatenedThe 2023 Population and Housing Census found that 87.2% of men aged 18–39 in Namibia had never been married. Experts attribute the shift to changing gender roles, women's financial independence, and reduced parental involvement in marriage decisions.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The 2023 Population and Housing Census found that 87.2% of men aged 18–39 in Namibia had never been married. Experts attribute the shift to changing gender roles, women's financial independence, and reduced parental involvement in marriage decisions.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Health and Social Services reported 11 489 people admitted for mental health treatment during the 2024/25 financial year, with 91 544 total mental health cases and 123 deaths. Chief health programme officer Magdalena Didalelwa attributed the burden to stigma, discrimination, family distress, and social ills, and called for stronger multi-sectoral collaboration in schools to improve early identification and support.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Tsumeb Municipality is challenging a Labour Commissioner's ruling that ordered it to reinstate a former firefighter assistant and pay him N$108 000 in outstanding wages. The arbitrator found the dismissal procedurally unfair and ordered reinstatement from 1 May 2026 and payment by 28 May, but the municipality has not complied and plans to appeal to the High Court.
15 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Church and traditional leaders in Namibia have rejected the growing practice of candle-lighting vigils to honour the deceased, arguing that the practice is foreign and has no basis in biblical teaching or customary law, with concerns raised that adopting such practices could erode Namibia's identity.
30 June 2026 · New Era →
Tsumeb councillor Sem Nghuulikwa has denied soliciting N$80,000 from a tenderer in exchange for an N$800,000 housing contract, calling a leaked WhatsApp screenshot "AI-generated" and a politically motivated smear campaign. The alleged chat, posted by businessman Nico Kaiyamo, appears to show Nghuulikwa offering 10 houses and requesting a sum to share with town engineer Pedro Manuel.
16 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Minister of urban and rural development approved Calista Schwartz-Gowases's appointment as Tsumeb municipality CEO effective 1 June 2026, but she has not yet received a formal letter of appointment and has not commenced work. The appointment faced internal council dispute over procedural irregularities, with some councillors raising concerns about deviation from the interview panel's recommendation.
15 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Traditional leaders say cultural norms, historical injustices, and societal expectations have contributed to many men remaining silent about abuse and emotional distress, citing apartheid-era labour systems that separated fathers from families and left boys without male role models.
14 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Traditional leaders have responded to Namibia's new Dissolution of Marriages Act 2024, which replaced the fault-based divorce system with a no-fault regime based on irretrievable breakdown and came into operation on 3 June. Ondonga Traditional Authority spokesperson Frans Enkali says customary authorities traditionally did not focus on blame in marriage endings and already distinguished between jointly acquired assets and inherited property, practices that align with the law's aims to move away from adversarial proceedings.
10 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Traditional Authorities Act allows community members to remove chiefs or heads from office if there is sufficient reason and the process follows customary law. This contradicts a recent statement by the minister of urban and rural development that chiefs can only be removed through royal family processes.
4 June 2026 · The Namibian →
A new Oshiwambo-language book explores how Aawambo and other communities have moved away from historical harsh penalties for out-of-wedlock pregnancies toward restorative approaches shaped by Christianity, legal systems, and evolving social norms. Church leaders and traditional authority representatives now advocate for compassion, education, and practical support rather than stigma, while acknowledging that traditional practices once required harsh discipline but have evolved to consider individual circumstances.
28 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Cremation proposals in Namibia have sparked sharp disagreement between those who see it as a practical and affordable alternative to rising funeral costs and those—including religious and traditional leaders—who reject it as culturally foreign and contrary to their beliefs. An undertaker acknowledged that widespread cremation would threaten the burial services industry, while some residents support it as a way to reduce funeral expenses and inequality.
13 February 2026 · New Era →
Several Namibian traditional leaders, including chiefs and headmen, are governing their rural communities while residing in Windhoek, contrary to the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000, which requires them to live within their communal areas. They justify this practice by citing the effectiveness of deputies and local committees, though legal scholars note such violations may warrant removal from office.
21 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Tsumeb Municipality is urging all businesses, institutions, organisations and individuals to remove illegally displayed advertisements on council land or public spaces by 14 February 2026, warning that non-compliant signage will be removed without liability.
8 January 2026 · New Era →