The Germans are watching – Muinjangue
Ida Hoffmann, reparations proponent and former Swapo member of parliament, said it is sad to see how the deepening factions are tearing the Ovaherero community apart.
The group has been involved in a tug of war over the paramount chieftaincy, which was claimed by Professor Mutjinde Katjiua last weekend.
According to her, it is shameful that the community had to pay respects and ask for blessings from their ancestors and forefathers in separate groups, as opposed to the united community they should be.
“If we go by that principle [unity], surely no battle ahead of us, beside us or coming from behind us will be stronger than the united us - the communities that stood the test of time when the extermination order was pronounced by the Germans. Let us seek to unite both the Ovaherero and the Nama communities to be stronger for tomorrow,” she said.
“We may have different views and approaches, but let us not deviate from the ultimate goal - the restoration of our dignity, the fight for justice, the reparation of those who died so that we may have life.”
According to Hoffmann, fighting for justice regarding the Ovaherero and Nama genocide is a noble cause and should not be tainted by divisions amongst descendants. Instead, they must put their differences aside and stand united to find healing, she said.
Laughing stock
Meanwhile, National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) president Esther Utjiua Muinjangue said infighting and divisions are making a mockery of the fight for reparations.
“Even the Germans are taking note of this and they are smiling,” she said.
“Forget talking to the Germans or any other outsiders, we must start a dialogue from within and we need to look in the mirror.
“Martin Luther King said we must learn to live together as brothers or we must be prepared to perish together as fools.”
Before her appointment as deputy health minister, Muinjangue served as the chairperson of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation.
[email protected]
The group has been involved in a tug of war over the paramount chieftaincy, which was claimed by Professor Mutjinde Katjiua last weekend.
According to her, it is shameful that the community had to pay respects and ask for blessings from their ancestors and forefathers in separate groups, as opposed to the united community they should be.
“If we go by that principle [unity], surely no battle ahead of us, beside us or coming from behind us will be stronger than the united us - the communities that stood the test of time when the extermination order was pronounced by the Germans. Let us seek to unite both the Ovaherero and the Nama communities to be stronger for tomorrow,” she said.
“We may have different views and approaches, but let us not deviate from the ultimate goal - the restoration of our dignity, the fight for justice, the reparation of those who died so that we may have life.”
According to Hoffmann, fighting for justice regarding the Ovaherero and Nama genocide is a noble cause and should not be tainted by divisions amongst descendants. Instead, they must put their differences aside and stand united to find healing, she said.
Laughing stock
Meanwhile, National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) president Esther Utjiua Muinjangue said infighting and divisions are making a mockery of the fight for reparations.
“Even the Germans are taking note of this and they are smiling,” she said.
“Forget talking to the Germans or any other outsiders, we must start a dialogue from within and we need to look in the mirror.
“Martin Luther King said we must learn to live together as brothers or we must be prepared to perish together as fools.”
Before her appointment as deputy health minister, Muinjangue served as the chairperson of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation.
[email protected]
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