TRIBAL POLITICS A DANGEROUS GAME

Dear Editor,
Responding to an article titled, “Lilemba clarifies Mafwe Name”. I would like to give a fruitful advice to my uncle (Dr. John Makala Lilemba) and other proper Mafwe as stated in his article in the Caprivi Vision Newspaper of the 24 April –10 May 2012 that, tribal politics is a dangerous game in Caprivi Region.
He shouldn’t be used as a tool to tarnish and betray his own tribe. There are a lot of questions that you can clarify on Mafwe identity; your statements are as follows.
“The appointment of Chief Joseph Tembwe Mayuni of the Mashi Traditional Authority was mainly politically supported as the were some bad influence on the other communities in the region.”
Yes, during the liberation struggle, SWAPO was supported by many countries. When you do good, many people will support your activity, e.g. I supported your doctorate during your research. When people are colonised by any tribe or race, there will be people to give them moral and material support. This does not mean after all they pay back. A big No. Chief Joseph Tembwe Mayuni had been appointed by his royal blood and recognised by SWAPO government of the Republic of Namibia in 2004 as Chief of the Mafwe.
If you run away from his rule you are most welcome to reside anywhere under any Chief. That is your democratic right in the independent Namibia. There is nothing like divide and rule. That AG8 was buried on March 21, 1990 it is no more in existence. Chief Joseph Tembwe Mayuni is a proper Chief of the Mafwe as he can speak siFwe language and resides in the Mafwe area of his jurisdiction and share cultures with his subjects naturally.
He ( Dr.Lilemba) narrated that the Mafwe is not really complicated because people under Chief Mamili are known as Mafwe and within that community they are people who regard themselves as proper Mafwe especially who originates from areas that stretch from Sibbinda, Makanga, Masinda and Singalamwe, to say Mayuni is a Mufwe is a mistake.
Yes, you are very correct by saying people from Sibbinda (where you originate), Makanga, Masinda up to Singalamwe are proper Mafwe. Now why do you support the Linyanti people to rule the proper Mafwe? Who are Linyanti people you are referring to in your article? I believe that Linyanti is an area, who are those residing in Linyanti? How do you call the union of tribes and what is their identity? You categorically said there are non Mafwe and proper Mafwe, Why do you want to mix the proper Mafwe with the non Mafwe? How do you call the Kraal where there are cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, donkey, etc. it will be a kraal of what type of animals? You stated that “Under that unified name Mafwe we have seven tribes these include people of Linyanti, Mbukushu, Totela, Yeyi, Mahe( Subia and Kwena) we also have Subia speaking Mafwe those found in areas of Sikanjabuka, Lusu, Masokotwani, Machita and Kwena) we also have the siLozi speaking Mafwe those found at Musanga from Zambia.
The questions follow your statement. Who gave you all these tribes? What qualifies them to be Mafwe? Many tribes can only form a race not a tribe in the real sense. Where in the world have you seen such a tribe of combination?
The combinations of seven (7) tribes force every subject to speak Lozi in the community court because you can’t understand each other. When a Yeyi speaks, a Mufwe speaks and other tribes won’t understand him or her. When a Mbukushu speaks , all tribes keep quiet. So, the only solution is to force everyone to speak Lozi, it is like a fanakalo (School Mini Language) in South Africa.
“ Streitwolf who was a commissioner in Caprivi visited chief Imataa at Linyanti and proceeded to the western part of Caprivi and visited Induna Mahachani and Sikosinyana at Bwadja (Bwacha) and proceeded to Sikosi, (he did not go to Mayuni)”, Yes, but your statement is incomplete because he ordered Mayuni to come in dugout of five men from each village. Why did he order chief Mayuni to meet him at Induna Sikosi? Dr Lilemba do you know that he (Streitwolf) met 150 men at the meeting at Sikosi where he forced all the Mafwe to fall under Mamili in 1909 and chief Mayuni spoke on behalf of his subjects in a thoughtful speech? Why Mayuni stood firm and respond to the coloniser? Dr Lilemba (Uncle) come up with the truth. I am not going to give any part of history of the proper Mafwe as you know them. We shall meet in the court of law one day and give what is on the ground. “ENITI CE CINTU”
For your information: “We are now recognised as Mafwe Community Court in terms of section 2(3) of the Community Courts Act, 2003(Act no.10 of 2003) in respect of area of the Mashi Traditional Community including Sibbinda and those areas you mentioned in the article.
The Chincimani Traditional Authority is now recognised as Linyanti Community Court in terms of the same sections and act. Kindly visit the traditional authority where you fall.
Do you know that we have a letter from Linyanti Khuta signed by his Royal Highness Chief George Simasiku Mamaili dated 19 November 2007 in which he agreed that the fusion of the Mafwe under one tribe and under chief Mamili’s authority was done at a formal meeting on 21 May 1909?
Can you tell the people correctly who were they before the fusion? The correct date above do you dispute with the statement of the chief? Where do you dispute?
I repeat what was their traditional identity before the fusion on 21 May 1909? Please tell the people in your next edition and answer those above with care.
My Dear Uncle (Dr. Lilemba) we still have confidence in you as a proper Mufwe and we rely on your doctorate to assist all the proper Mufwe to know where they come from and where they are going. What is their future towards Vision 2030, and what are they benefiting from the government of the day.
Look, the proper are not represented in the government of the day. No Mufwe Minister, Deputy Minister, PS, Member in the National Assembly, How many Directors do we have? How many subject advisors do know? How many School Inspectors do we have? How many senior school principals do we have in Namibia? Who is our Mufwe representative in the State House? What about high ranked persons in the army force or police force?
Those are the big issues we should meet as a proper Mufwe to discuss and hand our complaints to the government for consideration.
Look, we have national leaders in Caprivi but what are we benefiting from all? They are ours and we should give them necessary support for them to work better, Regardless of his /her tribe and origin.
Let us give positive education to our youngsters to fulfill their talents towards Vision 2030. Tribalism is a dangerous weapon to achieve our goal.
Lets us work together with other tribes in Namibia regardless of ethnic grouping. It is one Namibia, one Nation and one people whether you are serving in ruling or opposition we are one and the same.
Let us give necessary respect to all four chiefs in the Caprivi Region and also serve them with equal opportunities. Last but not least, Caprivi is a developing region. Let us strive for equity and equality in terms of wealthy distribution. Whether is coming from Linyanti or anywhere we are brothers and sisters? Let us respect the well established chiefs forum in Caprivi region.
I am ready to talk verbally to Dr. Lilemba in a peaceful manner.

Written by Mr. Mutelo Bornwell Kwibisa
Senior Teacher at Mayuni Senior Secondary School
Katima Mulilo
Cell: +264 813338801
Captions: Personally Speaking with Mr. Mutelo Bornwell Kwibisa