Staff Reporter
TWO claimants to the chieftainship of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority are on a collision course after Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa approved the application to designate Malakia Shoombe as successor to late Chief Daniel Shooya.
Supporters of late Chief Shooya’s nominee, Johannes Taanyanda Asino, are crying foul, claiming that the community was kept in the dark and that correct procedures were not followed.
Late Chief Shooya, who headed the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority since 1985, died in 2024 aged 100.
On Friday, Minister Sankwasa addressed a letter to the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority informing it that the application to designate Shoombe as the new Chief has been approved.
Sankwasa said that the approval was granted after a consultative meeting last year with the two disputing candidates, accompanied by their representatives, the Council of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority, the Chairperson of the Eight Northern Traditional Authorities Association, the Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders, a representative from the Uukwaluudhi Traditional Authority — being the neighbouring Traditional Authority to the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority — and all concerned stakeholders.
“Furthermore,” said the Minister, “the recommendations to designate Mr Malakia Shoombe as the new Chief of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority, emanating from the consultative meeting, were endorsed, in writing, by the Council of the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority.”
In terms of Section 5(7) of the Traditional Authority Act (Act No. 25 of 2000), the Uukolonkadhi Traditional Authority is now required to choose the date, time and place for the official designation of the Chief. The Traditional Authority is also required to give, in writing, prior notification to the Minister of the date, time and place in question, to enable him or his representative to attend and witness the official designation of the Chief.
Meanwhile, it is claimed that the Minister’s designation goes counter to the late Chief’s will.
Chief Shooya’s widow, Selma Shooya, said in an interview with Informanté that she was kept in the dark about all events ever since her husband’s demise, but that she has in her possession all the relevant documents containing the late Chief’s wishes.
She said that the late Chief had nominated his sister Niita’s grandson, Johannes Taanyanda Asino, as his successor and later, when the frailty of age caught up with him, he appointed Asino as Acting Chief.
However, Asino — who is a banker — delegated his uncle, Malakia Shoombe, to act in his stead.
“The designation of Shoombe as the new Chief is shocking and is unfair, possibly based on manipulated information. Asino is the rightful heir to the chieftainship,” said a relative of the late Chief Shooya on condition of anonymity.
