Communities can remove traditional leaders

The Traditional Authorities Act allows for the removal of chiefs or heads of traditional communities from office by community members, provided there is sufficient reason and the process is in accordance with customary law. This is amid voting sessions held by |Khomanin community members to remove their chief, Juliane Gawa-!Nas, and her council for allegedly selling land and keeping donations meant for the community for herself. This also comes after minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa last week said traditional leaders can only be removed through processes led by royal families and not by communities alone.

He said chiefs are appointed from royal bloodlines, and are traditionally accountable to royal families. However, the act states that such chiefs may be removed from office by the members of the traditional community in accordance with the customary law of that community. It also says the members of a community, authorised by customary law, may designate a member of that traditional community to replace such chief or head.