Munjuku Nguvauva II
Encyclopedia
Munjuku Nguvauva II was a Namibia
n traditional paramount chief
and leader of the Ovambanderu and Mbanderu communiies, ethnic group
s who live in Namibia
and Botswana
. Nguvauva was also deputy chief of Namibia's Traditional Leaders Council.
, Botswana
, on January 1, 1923. He and his family moved from Botswana to Namibia in 1951.
Nguvauva was the great grandson of Mbanderu Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva. (The Mbanderu are an ethnic group from Namibia and Botswana). Kahimemua was executed in 1896 by the German
colonial
administration of German South-West Africa
for his part in the first armed rebellion against German rule.
s in November 2004 and again in 2005. Complications from the strokes left Nguvauva's with impaired speech. He spent long periods of time in the Gobabis State Hospital
and the Roman Catholic Hospital
in Windhoek
over the next few years as his health continued to deteriorate.
Nguvauva was rushed to Windhoek Central Hospital on Monday, January 14, 2008, from his home in Ezorongondo village, Epukiro constituency which is located in the Omaheke Region. Munjuku II Nguvauva died on January 16, 2008, at the Windhoek Central Hospital
at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Aletta Karikondua Nguvauva, as well as several children and grandchildren.
Another claimant to the title of Chief is Keharanjo Nguvauva
, the 23-year-old son of Munjuku II Nguvauva and his wife, Aletta Karikondua Katjiteo-Nguvauva. Keharanjo Nguvauva was also born in Botswana and grew up there with his older half-brother, Kilus Nguvauva, and his family. Keharanjo Nguvauva
is currently attending law school
in South Africa
.
Some members of the Mbanderu community have called for a change of the tribal constitution
to allow for a smoother transition and greater say in who becomes Chief. This position is opposed by others.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n traditional paramount chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
and leader of the Ovambanderu and Mbanderu communiies, ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
s who live in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
. Nguvauva was also deputy chief of Namibia's Traditional Leaders Council.
Early life
Nguvauva II was born in the town of MaunMaun
Maun is the fifth largest town in Botswana. As of 2001, it had a population of 43,776. It is an eclectic mix of modern buildings and native huts. Maun is the "tourism capital" of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland district...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, on January 1, 1923. He and his family moved from Botswana to Namibia in 1951.
Nguvauva was the great grandson of Mbanderu Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva. (The Mbanderu are an ethnic group from Namibia and Botswana). Kahimemua was executed in 1896 by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
administration of German South-West Africa
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
for his part in the first armed rebellion against German rule.
Chief
Munjuku II Nguvauva was formally inaugurated as Chief in 1951, the same year that he moved to what is now Namibia.Death
Nguvauva's health began to decline after a series of strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
s in November 2004 and again in 2005. Complications from the strokes left Nguvauva's with impaired speech. He spent long periods of time in the Gobabis State Hospital
Gobabis State Hospital
Gobabis State Hospital is a government-run hospital in Gobabis, Omaheke Region, Namibia. It has 150 beds and was completed in 1991....
and the Roman Catholic Hospital
Roman Catholic Hospital
The Roman Catholic Hospital is a private hospital in Windhoek, Namibia run by the Roman Catholic Church. Founded in 1907 by the Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing, the Roman Catholic Hospital had 87 beds in 2007....
in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
over the next few years as his health continued to deteriorate.
Nguvauva was rushed to Windhoek Central Hospital on Monday, January 14, 2008, from his home in Ezorongondo village, Epukiro constituency which is located in the Omaheke Region. Munjuku II Nguvauva died on January 16, 2008, at the Windhoek Central Hospital
Windhoek Central Hospital
Windhoek Central Hospital is a public hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. It is one of two State Hospitals in the city....
at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Aletta Karikondua Nguvauva, as well as several children and grandchildren.
Succession
Analysts believe that there may be a power struggle to decide who will succeed Nguvauva as Chief of the Mbanderu community. On potential candidate for Chief is Namibia's Fisheries Deputy Minister Kilus Nguvauva, who is Munjuku II Nguvauva's son from a previous relationship. Kilus Nguvauva, like his father, was born in Botswana.Another claimant to the title of Chief is Keharanjo Nguvauva
Keharanjo Nguvauva
Keharanjo II Xavier Komavau Nguvauva was the Paramount Chief of the Ovambanderu and Namibia's ever first young traditional leader...
, the 23-year-old son of Munjuku II Nguvauva and his wife, Aletta Karikondua Katjiteo-Nguvauva. Keharanjo Nguvauva was also born in Botswana and grew up there with his older half-brother, Kilus Nguvauva, and his family. Keharanjo Nguvauva
Keharanjo Nguvauva
Keharanjo II Xavier Komavau Nguvauva was the Paramount Chief of the Ovambanderu and Namibia's ever first young traditional leader...
is currently attending law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Some members of the Mbanderu community have called for a change of the tribal constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
to allow for a smoother transition and greater say in who becomes Chief. This position is opposed by others.