The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has expressed concern about the growing number of disputes over the recognition of traditional leaders in Namibia.

Sankwasa addressed residents of the Kunene Region in Opuwo, saying the country is increasingly facing conflicts within traditional authorities over chieftainship.

Sankwasa called for respect for traditional succession practices amid rising chieftainship disputes.

He said that traditionally, leadership succession was based on bloodline and established cultural practices, but some communities are now disregarding these customs, resulting in unnecessary disputes and divisions.

Sankwasa said he intends to visit various traditional communities across the country to gain a deeper understanding of their structures, norms, and succession systems.

"There are so many disputes among various communities on the issues of chieftainship to an extent that every person in this country is becoming a chief. When I was growing up, chieftainship was according to bloodline – a royal family for every tribe from which a chief would be nominated – but today there are no structures like that."

He warned that politics should not be used to suppress traditions nor interfere with traditional-related matters and customs.