The system of government-recognised traditional chiefs came under heavy flack from the Republican and NUDO opposition parties in Parliament on Wednesday. RP president Henk Mudge tabled a motion to discuss the appointment and official recognition of traditional chiefs, since "the perception exists that Government prefers to recognize traditional leaders who support the ruling party", Mudge said. "Quite a number of traditional leaders were promised recognition once they have joined the ruling party", Mudge alleged. This was done on condition that the relevant chiefs would then influence their people to support the ruling party.

There was a lot of unhappiness in many communities about this, Mudge added, since traditional leaders were often appointed contrary to the will of the people. If the government did not handle this problem correctly, this could have "dire consequences, the RP president warned.

Herero paramount Chief, Kuaima Riruako, who is not recognised by the government, joined the debate and said the way the Namibian government followed a "political strategy of divide and rule" when it came to recognising traditional leaders. "This is a continuation of the white South African apartheid way, Riruako noted. The so-called concept of Royal Herero Houses (Maharero, Vita, Kambazembi, Zeraeua, etc) as mentioned in a Government Proclamation of 2004, was neither contained in the Constitution nor in the Traditional Authorities Act, Riruako pointed out. The Herero people never had royal houses in their tribal system; this was only construed by the government, Riruako said.