PROFILE

By Simon Liseli

FORMER internal auditor in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in Zambezi region , is now Ngambela(premier) Borniface Lukopani Maemeko.

He was appointed as the Ngambela of the Mafwe Tribe in March 2021 at Linyanti Traditional Authority of the Mafwe Royal Establishment at Chinchimani by Chief George Chikandekande Simasiku Mamili VII.

His appointment follows the passing of the late Ngambela Dixon Mubita Lusepani who passed on, on September 16, 2019. The late Lusepani, was born in 1948 at Sesheke in now Kongola Constituecy.He became ngambela in July 2018.He worked as a director in the ministry of home affairs until his retirement in 2008. He worked closely with Chief Mamili VII, He was the shortest serving Ngambela of the Mafwe.

The newly installed Ngambela Maemeko was born on the 17^th of January 1960 at Lizauli, southwest of the then Caprivi Strip now (Zambezi region). He was born and bred by his father Mr.Godwin Litaba Maemeko and his late mother who has since passed on in 2000.

He started with his primary education very late at the age of twelve (12), in 1972 at Sachona Primary School in Sub A now (grade1) up to Standard 5, (grade 7) and later was transferred to Ngweze Senior Secondary School where He completed His secondary education in 1986.

Lukopani, He is a second born in a family of ten (10) five men and five women but unfortunately his two siblings in the family have passed away.

His favourate dish is mahangu pap (thick porridge ) with fish, at school he liked playing volleyball and boxing.

Luckily, from 1987 after graduating his second year matric class (STD10), He travelled to Rundu where he got his first job as an Accountant Clerk in Barclays bank, and worked for four (4) years before he joined the Ministry of Education in 1991 where he worked for a short period as a store clerk in Rundu.

He was then transferred to Caprivi region in the same year and worked at education stores as a public service clerk.

In 1992, he was promoted and transferred to the regional office where he worked in a position of a senior clerk controlling the stores in the same ministry of education.

In 1994, Mr.Maemeko got a promotion of a senior assistant accountant to another section, responsible for checking all finances in the ministry.

He was finally promoted into a position of an internal auditor where he worked until 2018 when he resigned to go on an early retirement at the age of 58.

In March 2021, he was called at Linyanti Traditional Authority where He was appointed as the  Mafwe Ngambela, the position he is currently serving.

When asked why he was appointed as Ngambela of the Mafwe, Ngambela Maemeko has this to say, “from my perspectives I was chosen in this position because of my capabilities and if you look back at my records I have been just promoted and those days when we were working there was no interviews, promotions were determined by your performance at work, so to me I was chosen to become a Ngambela because of my determination and responsibilities including royalty to Mafwe people”.

How do you feel in that position ?

“Its quiet challenging , but as am talking with you now I am comfortable and proud to be a Ngambela as am standing with my two feet to safe guard my people and solve their problems because they relay on me and everything comes through me and I take to the Chief, so am happy to be the Ngambela” he explained.

However, Ngambela Maemeko confirmed to Caprivi Vision that this year’s Lusata Cultural Festival for the Mafwe people will be celebrated on Sunday , October 2, 2022 after being quiet for almost two years due to the restrictions measures of the pandemic of the deadly Coronavirus.

He mentioned that this coming Lusata Cultural Festival is organised in a different way when compared to previous festivals.

“The coming Lusata Cultural Festival is well organised, so am also inviting you to come and see what is going on here, you will see that there is a new building which we call Lutaitai and all preparations are underway, masses of the Mafwe people and others are interested to come and celebrate with us”.

The Ngambela added that the Lusata festival will be a good chance for people to come and see him facially, as he will be addressing them because since his inauguration last year many of them did not see him.

This year’s Lusata Cultural Festival slated for this coming weekend, will be witnessed by the Vice President of the Republic of Namibia Hon. Nangolo Mbumba, He will celebrate with the Mafwe people and is expected to deliver his keynote address to the Mafwe people at Chinchimani some 70 kilometers southwest of Katima Mulilo, capital of Zambezi region.

Other invited dignitaries will be from the neighbouring Botswana and Zambia, Chief Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo  of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, of the Aandonga people in northern Namibia will also join the Lusata festival.

The name Lusata is derived from the royal mace of the Mafwe people, a stick covered in ivory.This ceremony is an exercise where the Chief of the Mafwe holds his stick called Lusata  when he comes out from his traditional palace, which he presents to his subjects.

The Ngambela called on all Mafwe people to stand united and work as a team in everything that comes not to involve themselves in tribalism.

“I don’t promote tribalism, what I want is people to remain united and cooperate with our government and all three traditional authorities that are in this region, because our vision is to work together and achieve goals” he advised.