President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is urging traditional leaders to follow their customary laws when appointing leaders to avoid disputes.

Such disputes had led to 16 traditional authorities without leaders.

The President, who was speaking at the opening of the Council of Traditional Leaders at Ondangwa, emphasised that customary laws guiding succession must be understood and followed.

She said the government often gets involved in these disputes, but time and money could be better spent on developing the country and ensuring the well-being of the people.

The Head of State emphasised that the government would not entertain applications for the recognition of new traditional authorities without due process.

"Communities have been dragged into succession disputes for a very long time. Such conflicts are, by their nature, divisive. Therefore, I appeal to you to act swiftly and spare no effort in uniting your communities, because it is only through unity that we can collectively achieve the bold socio-developmental plans we have set for ourselves as a nation." 

She also called upon traditional authorities to support government efforts aimed at much-needed development. 

The President affirmed that the government remains committed to supporting traditional authorities, including providing vehicles for traditional courts.

"When the government needs communal land for development, there should be no negotiations. I therefore commend traditional leaders for availing land to the government and private sectors to establish green scheme farms and other agricultural initiatives by private investors, such as grapes and blueberries, just to mention a few."

The President expressed concern over suicide incidents that stood at 542 during the 2023/2024 period. 

"We are known as the country that tops the list of suicides in Africa. That is not a record to be associated with. Over the past 3–4 weeks, we have lost over 10 lives to suicide. This is not just a statistic; it represents precious lives lost, broken families left behind and a nation in pain. As traditional leaders, your wisdom, influence, and close connection to communities are vital in helping the governments understand the root causes and develop practical solutions."

The meeting will end on Friday.