Letter

Media reports (The Windhoek Times) that the German ambassador in Namibia, Dr Thorsten Hutter, "met with IPC president Dr Panduleni Itula on behalf of the European Union to discuss Namibia-EU relations because Dr Itula is widely believed to be the next president of Namibia."

This is true of German diplomatic tradition in Namibia. For instance, a former German ambassador to Namibia, Dr Schlaga, spoke at a gathering of a German high school in Windhoek and said, (paraphrased): In truth, Germans killed the Hereros during the wars of genocide. But this was done in self-defence. Therefore, there was no need for Germany to apologise.

Ambassador Schlaga received no rebuke from the Namibian government, save from some of us who took him on publicly. He served his term until he bid farewell to Namibia's head of state at the end of his term – the fact that genocide is an emotive subject to Namibia's victim indigenes notwithstanding. They shook hands covered in velvet gloves.

Now, here we have it again. The German ambassador discusses future relations with Dr Panduleni Itula because, in the book of the European Union, it is a foregone conclusion that Dr Itula will be Namibia's next president.

My statement has nothing to do with Dr Panduleni Itula, whom I continue to hold in high regard.

I have an issue with the arrogance of representatives of the German government in Namibia. They continue to apply the eurocentric model of disregard for African leadership. They see no one in charge of this country on whom to bestow some respect, safe for those they would want to see ruling this country.

The Namibian government must accept partial blame for treating German ambassadors with velvet gloves and giving them a free rein.

As if this is not sufficient evidence for disregard, a German diplomat by the name of Polenz once walked through Namibia and concluded his honeymoon with a media briefing at which he said, as if half asleep, (paraphrased): If anyone believes that the German government will one day arrive in Namibia with suitcases full of money, they will have a rude awakening because this will not happen.

This sarcastic reference, insensitive at that, was meant for the victim indigenes of the German genocide: Nama and Ovaherero. Again, this skunk left Namibia without rebuke by the government, and more so with impunity.

Now we have Dr Hutter.

In his book, Dr Panduleni Itula is the next president of Namibia and he must discuss with him future relations between Namibia and the European Union.

All I can say to the German ambassador is: Ambassador! Welcome to Namibia. We know the century-old German schemes pertaining to Namibia. 'Lebensraum'.

But you are in for a surprise because the future of Namibia will not be what it has been.

If you believe that Germany will get away with a scheme similar to what Kaizer Wilhelm did in 1905, when he, through the stroke of a pen, decreed that 45 million hectares of land belonging to the Nama and Ovaherero must pass to German settlers, soldiers and missionaries, you and your government will have a rude awakening. Because, this time around, the people of this land will resist such schemes.

Bob Kandetu

Katutura