[4] The settlement was formed in 1902 when Roman Catholic Church bought the 30,000 ha farm Epukiro.

[8] A South African administrator writes: "Seeing that the whole Hereroland was confiscated by the Germans and cut up into farms and is now settled by Europeans it would be an impossible project ... to place them back on their tribal lands.

This difference is the cause of a decades–old rift between the two, with one faction, the Ovambanderu Council of Epukiro and Aminuis seeking recognition of the Mbanderu as a distinct tribe.

The other faction aims for a strong and united Herero people under the Tjamuaha-Maharero Royal House and accuses the Mbanderu of artificial division.

Their headquarters is situated at the Post 3 (Otjiherero: Omauezonjanda) location at the outskirts of Epukiro, 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of its centre (21°36′S 19°25′E / 21.600°S 19.417°E / -21.600; 19.417).

[10] After the death of Mbanderu paramount chief Munjuku Nguvauva II in 2008 the rift in the Ovambanderu community deepened.

The other faction of the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority favoured his older half-brother, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Kilus Nguvauva.