Munjuku Nguvauva II - Political Activities

Political Activities

Nguvauva II supported future Namibian president Sam Nujoma on his escape into exile in 1960. When he was invited to talks with the United Nations in 1962, he requested Namibia to become independent from South Africa. This opinion angered the administration, his status as Paramount Chief was removed, and Nikanor Hoveka, formerly Chief at Epukiro, was installed as Paramount Chief of the Ovambanderu. This move is the root of a long dispute about Mbanderu paramount chieftaincy.

Nguvauva II subsequently turned down any attempt of the South African administration to win him over again by offering him positions in government and Advisory Council. When the Multi-National Council of South-West Africa was established on 1 March 1973, he refused to become a member of that body. He nevertheless was invited speaker at the end of the third and last session of the Council where he again rejected the idea of a half-hearted involvement of Namibia's indigenous population in the administration of their own affairs:

"One cannot rebuild a cracked house on weak foundations - one must first tear the building down before one starts anew."

Dirk Mudge, leader of the National Party, attempted to include Nguvauva II as representative of the 1975–1977 Turnhalle Constitutional Conference in the delegation of Clemens Kapuuo, Paramount Chief of the Herero. Nguvauva rejected this because he did not accept Kapuuo's superiority; he would only join as part of an independent delegation. He instead attended the Okahandja Conference, a congregation of parties barred from entering the official talks at Windhoek's Turnhalle building.

Munjuku Nguvauva II rejected further offers to join the South-West African administration and subsequently convinced the Mbanderu Council to form an alliance with SWAPO.