Netumbo urges communities to carefully consider genocide offer
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the Nama and Ovaherero genocide victims' descendants to carefully consider their reparations demands.
She highlighted that geopolitical developments could affect the outcome, suggesting they might either miss out or face prolonged negotiations. The vice-president made these remarks during the opening of the Chiefs Forum meeting currently underway in Windhoek, where the controversial joint declaration in which Germany had promised N$18.6 billion over 30 years is among the agenda items.
“Banking our hopes on external organisations for a genocide that was committed more than 120 years ago in Africa by one of the current economic powers in the world may not help us, particularly in this highly polarised international political order,” she said.
“It is therefore important for us to pay attention and appreciate what has been achieved from these negotiations and indicate where improvements should be made, if necessary,” she added.
Give-and-take
She also urged the affected communities to be mindful that the consensus reached so far is not perfect, nor does it meet all the expectations of the victims’ descendants and the Namibian citizens in general, given the impact of the 1904-1908 genocide.
However, she said they should all agree that the principle of give-and-take plays a role, but hastened to add that this does not mean the Namibian government believes the proposed offer is ‘enough’.
“We have now made Germany agree to commit itself to revisit and renegotiate this amount, as the implementation of the reparations ensues. Let me make it clear that the consensus reached so far does not constitute the agreement between Namibia and Germany. The understanding reached by the two governments will be subjected to the National Assembly for further discussion and noting, before the whole process is finalised,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She further ensured the communities that government will not interfere with the ‘atonement fund’, but will keep an ‘eagle eye’ to ensure it is used for its intended purpose and improves of the living conditions of the descendants of the genocide victims.
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She highlighted that geopolitical developments could affect the outcome, suggesting they might either miss out or face prolonged negotiations. The vice-president made these remarks during the opening of the Chiefs Forum meeting currently underway in Windhoek, where the controversial joint declaration in which Germany had promised N$18.6 billion over 30 years is among the agenda items.
“Banking our hopes on external organisations for a genocide that was committed more than 120 years ago in Africa by one of the current economic powers in the world may not help us, particularly in this highly polarised international political order,” she said.
“It is therefore important for us to pay attention and appreciate what has been achieved from these negotiations and indicate where improvements should be made, if necessary,” she added.
Give-and-take
She also urged the affected communities to be mindful that the consensus reached so far is not perfect, nor does it meet all the expectations of the victims’ descendants and the Namibian citizens in general, given the impact of the 1904-1908 genocide.
However, she said they should all agree that the principle of give-and-take plays a role, but hastened to add that this does not mean the Namibian government believes the proposed offer is ‘enough’.
“We have now made Germany agree to commit itself to revisit and renegotiate this amount, as the implementation of the reparations ensues. Let me make it clear that the consensus reached so far does not constitute the agreement between Namibia and Germany. The understanding reached by the two governments will be subjected to the National Assembly for further discussion and noting, before the whole process is finalised,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She further ensured the communities that government will not interfere with the ‘atonement fund’, but will keep an ‘eagle eye’ to ensure it is used for its intended purpose and improves of the living conditions of the descendants of the genocide victims.
[email protected]
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