Oukwanyama Traditional Authority

Oukwanyama Traditional Authority — governing body that recently abolished hereditary village headman succession in favor of community-elected leaders, based in Ohangwena Region.

2025-05-162026-10-24

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Oukwanyama Traditional Authority

Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

July 2026
24 JulThe Namibian
The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority support the nomination
Source
“The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority also support the nomination.”
Ohangwena backs Pohamba centre heritage nomination
June 2026
16 JunInformanté
Oukwanyama Traditional Authority has scrapped the practice of passing village headman position through family lines
Source
“The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority (OuTA), under Meekulu Martha Mwadinomho Kristian Nelumbu, has changed that.”
Oukwanyama Traditional Authority ends hereditary rule at village level
February 2026
18 FebNew Era
Oukwanyama Traditional Authority has fired and suspended headmen for allegedly presiding over dubious land transactions
Source
“Meanwhile, the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority has fired a headman from Onehanga, and another from Oshamukweni has been suspended for allegedly presiding over dubious land transactions.”
Okongo’s illegal fences falling
May 2025
16 MayThe Namibian
Queen Martha Nelumbu of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority hosted the recent Omaongo Festival at the Omedhi palace
Source
“The recent festival took place at the Omedhi palace in the Ohangwena region, hosted by Queen Martha Nelumbu of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority.”
Omaongo Festival: Honouring Heritage, Embracing Unity

Agriculture & Land

FMD restrictions allow livestock slaughter at home for weddings

The News

Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture says families may slaughter livestock at home for weddings and events, provided the animals are already at the venue, but transportation between locations remains prohibited following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Traditional authorities say the restrictions violate customs such as lobola, a traditional practice involving the transfer of cattle.

29 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 29 September

FMD restrictions allow livestock slaughter at home for weddings
Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture says families may slaughter livestock at home for weddings and events, provided the animals are already at the venue, but transportation between locations remains prohibited following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Traditional authorities say the restrictions violate customs such as lobola, a traditional practice involving the transfer of cattle.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 24 July

Ohangwena backs Pohamba centre as national heritage site
The Hifikepunye Pohamba Community Resource Centre at Okanghudi village in the Ondobe constituency has been nominated to become a national heritage site. The proposed declaration covers three heritage features: a historic tree, a statue of former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, and the resource centre itself, which preserves presidential records from 2005 to 2015 and serves as a community research and information hub.
24 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 16 June

Oukwanyama ends hereditary village headman succession
The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority has scrapped the hereditary practice of passing village headman positions through family lines, instead allowing community members to elect their own village leaders by ballot. The change preserves the monarch's position as the prerogative of the royal clan.
16 June 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 29 May

President says development must not erase cultural identity
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the opening of the Omaludi Agricultural Festival in Ohangwena that development must not come at the expense of cultural identity. She noted the festival boosts the local economy through accommodation, transport, and informal trade, and announced the government will focus on improving existing agricultural schemes rather than establishing new ones.
29 May 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 10 April

Traditional authorities split on proposed widow social grant
The Erongo Widows' Association has called for a government social grant for widows, particularly young widows and those caring for children alone. Traditional leaders are divided: some argue the government has too many responsibilities and question whether all widows are vulnerable, while others support the grant as a means to improve child welfare and support primary breadwinners.
10 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 7 April

Angola's efundja floods northern Namibia, disrupting schools and transport
Severe flooding from Angolan water sources has inundated low-lying areas of Ohangwena and parts of Omusati, blocking roads, closing schools, and disrupting healthcare access. President Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on traditional authorities to allocate land for permanent relocation of flood-prone communities, but the process has stalled due to lack of formal applications from residents.
7 April 2026 · New Era →

Friday 20 February

VP Witbooi to lead tributes at Nghimtina memorial service
Vice President Lucia Witbooi will represent President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and deliver a tribute at the military memorial service of former minister Erkki Dineinge Nghidipohamba Nghimtina on Friday in Ohangwena Region, joined by former presidents Nangolo Mbumba and Hifikepunye Pohamba. Nghimtina, a liberation struggle veteran who served as parliamentarian and minister for close to three decades, died earlier this month aged 78, with his burial scheduled for Saturday at Eenhana Memorial Shrine.
20 February 2026 · Informanté →

Wednesday 18 February

Ohangwena board removes 22 illegal fences in Okongo
The Ohangwena Communal Land Board has begun removing 22 illegal fences in Okongo constituency between 17 and 22 February, with more than 50 National Youth Service members deployed to assist. Board chairperson Wilhelmina Shakela said the occupants had ignored letters to vacate, as the communal land is reserved for grazing, though demonstrators in recent weeks have protested the removals claiming they would lose their homes.
18 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 21 January

Traditional leaders serve rural areas from Windhoek despite legal residency rules
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 →

Wednesday 7 January

Police urged to join traditional leaders in dispute resolution
Following a fatal land dispute in Oshikoto where a headman was killed and another wounded, Namibian Police have urged traditional leaders to involve law enforcement in community dispute-resolution processes and public gatherings. Police say their mandate includes protecting lives and property, and community engagement is essential for maintaining peace and safety.
7 January 2026 · New Era →