By Joe-Chintha Garises
BETHANIE, July 15 — The newly elected chief of the !Aman Clan in Bethanie district is still to be recognised by the government and is still known as the senior councillor of the village.
Johannes Fredrick was elected in 2021 as chief of the clan.
“The chief is still not acknowledged by the government but we don’t know why,” said councillor Christof Boois.
The delay in the acknowledgement is preventing the Chief from fully fulfilling his duties.
“With the new chief we see a difference in the youth involvement in traditional activities but funds are the main challenge for the office of the chief,” Boois added.
He said they had written letters (to the ministry of local government) for the chief to be recognised.
“They said there were two nominated chiefs for the clan and they want to come and investigate the matter and we said they are free to do so because we don’t know of any other such matter. They still have not visited the office,” he added.
Boois said unemployment in the town was very high and it caused youth to engage in illegal activities such as theft.
The office of the chief is also responsible for traditional courts and if cases are beyond their jurisdiction, they refer them to the town magistrate court.
“If someone is found guilty of stealing a goat for instance the traditional court will make them pay two goats to the owner,” Boois explained.
The traditional court has eight members excluding the chief.
Boois said there are plans to renovate the chief’s office building this year as “the building has been here for more than 100 years and it’s getting old”.
