The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development has commenced the degazetting process for Josua Seibeb as Chief of the Tsoaxudama Traditional Authority.

This comes after the period in which the traditional authority was given to appoint a new chief lapsed. 

The community was given 14 days to appoint a new chief, but the period lapsed with no response. 

A statement addressed to Chief Seibeb by the minister, James Sankwasa, referred to an agreement made at previous meetings with the transitional authority where consensus was reached on the implementation of the appointments.

It says non-compliance has compelled the ministry to initiate the process to degazette Seibeb, following a formal request submitted to the traditional authority.

Chief Seibeb, who was coronated in 2020, has come under fire for allegedly failing to support community development and for being consistently absent from public meetings.

Residents argue that since taking office, the chief has shown little interest in addressing the needs of the people or participating in traditional government activities.

Chief Seibeb rejected the allegations, and he is of the opinion that the conflict stemmed from his efforts to enforce accountability within the traditional authority.

This includes introducing measures to assess the backgrounds of those serving under him and complaints as retaliation from those unwilling to comply with higher standards of governance.