Staff Reporter
THE jostling for the prestigious position of the Chairman of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority (OuTA) has claimed its first casualty, with one of the men favoured to take over the position resigning.
Dineinge Sheya, Queen Martha Nelumbu’s secretary, has resigned days after Senior Traditional Councillor, George Nelulu, announced his retirement effective January next year.
Nelulu served in that position for nearly two decades.
There is a pool of potential candidates Queen Nelumbu can choose from to replace Nelulu and Sheya was seen as one of the favourites.
“There were talks of appointing as chairman someone who has no additional responsibilities as head of a district. Sheya, who is not a district head, was one of the favourites, but being a favourite also made him an easy target,” a source said.
Sheya also resigned from the Regional Land Board and the Regional Disaster Risk Management where he represented the OuTA.
He gave as reason for the resignations the need for him to give his undivided attention to his doctoral thesis at the Rhodes University, but those close to him and OuTA insiders say that there is much more than meets the eye.
Multiple sources have alleged that a clique within the OuTA made attempts to remove Sheya from his position.
Dr. Fritz Nghiishikilwa, the current OuTA chief administrator, was offered the position, but he allegedly rejected it.
The situation is so tense that even the headmen who normally spoke freely to the media, are now reluctant to speak on record.
