Legal battle lines over the ritual stone are drawn between Ombalantu Traditional Authority (OTA) headed by Chief Oswin Mukulu and the royal family led by the King-designate Abisai Shilomhoka Heita.
“We are not happy that the stone is with Mukulu since he has no right whatsoever to keep such property. The stone belongs to us, the royal family, both legally, traditionally and historically,” Heita told Informanté.
According to Heita, the royal family has already approached their lawyers, who are currently drafting summons against OTA and Chief Mukulu to legally compel them to hand over the stone to the royal family.
Heita said since the return of the stone, he has met Mukulu once at the OTA offices but they had only a brief chat about the stone. Mukulu allegedly requested him (Heita) to find an appropriate opportunity for them to discuss the matter formally. “We are surprised by the conciliatory attitude of Mukulu, because he is the one who approached me when we met by accident at Outapi. It was something unthinkable in the past for him to talk to me. But despite all this, we are still going ahead with our legal efforts, since we know what would be the outcome of any discussion with him,” Heita noted. Mukulu said he is keeping the stone on behalf of the OTA and will soon arrange a welcoming party of the stone to be held at Outapi.
The stone in question, which was used for initiation of men and sharpening of weapons, was taken from Namibia by a Finnish missionary in 1931 and was only handed over to President Hifikepunye Pohamba last year. President Pohamba handed it over to Chief Mukulu recently to keep it on behalf of Ombalantu Traditional Authority.
“We are not happy that the stone is with Mukulu since he has no right whatsoever to keep such property. The stone belongs to us, the royal family, both legally, traditionally and historically,” Heita told Informanté.
According to Heita, the royal family has already approached their lawyers, who are currently drafting summons against OTA and Chief Mukulu to legally compel them to hand over the stone to the royal family.
Heita said since the return of the stone, he has met Mukulu once at the OTA offices but they had only a brief chat about the stone. Mukulu allegedly requested him (Heita) to find an appropriate opportunity for them to discuss the matter formally. “We are surprised by the conciliatory attitude of Mukulu, because he is the one who approached me when we met by accident at Outapi. It was something unthinkable in the past for him to talk to me. But despite all this, we are still going ahead with our legal efforts, since we know what would be the outcome of any discussion with him,” Heita noted. Mukulu said he is keeping the stone on behalf of the OTA and will soon arrange a welcoming party of the stone to be held at Outapi.
The stone in question, which was used for initiation of men and sharpening of weapons, was taken from Namibia by a Finnish missionary in 1931 and was only handed over to President Hifikepunye Pohamba last year. President Pohamba handed it over to Chief Mukulu recently to keep it on behalf of Ombalantu Traditional Authority.
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