Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The Chiefs’ Assembly of Okandjoze has rejected the Namibian government’s planned roadshows to provide feedback on the Joint Declaration (JD) negotiated with Germany regarding the 1904–1908 genocide against the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu, and Nama communities.
The roadshows, set to begin today, 18 December, aim to inform affected communities about the bilateral agreement, which has sparked widespread criticism and rejection.
In a media statement issued on Tuesday, the Assembly accused the government of sidelining affected communities and attempting to secure acceptance for the controversial agreement.
“We as the Chiefs’ Assembly distance ourselves and our communities from the envisaged JD roadshows to prepare a soft landing for the JD that has apparently been concluded, and it is only a matter of time before it is signed and implemented,” the statement read.
The assembly reiterated its rejection of the JD as a substitute for Germany’s formal acknowledgement of genocide and credible atonement.
“The JD is and shall never be a substitute in the realm of Germany’s acknowledgement of the genocide Imperial Germany committed against our forebears,” the statement read.
The Assembly called for a national conference to achieve consensus among all descendants of survivors.
It argued that the urgency of the JD is misplaced.
“However long it may take, eventually the battle would have been won with a credible legacy for future generations, putting the spirits of our ancestors to a well-deserved eternal rest.”
The Chiefs’ Assembly also emphasised that while it supports bilateral cooperation between Namibia and Germany, such agreements should benefit all Namibians without undermining the genocide issue.
Former ambassador Pius Dunaiski also criticized the government’s handling of the matter, calling it a betrayal of the affected communities.
He described the situation as dire, particularly in light of shifting political dynamics in Germany.
“The major political shift to the right in Germany is threatening the bilateral JD initialled by both governments and rejected by affected communities in Namibia,” he said.
Dunaiski warned that the upcoming German elections in February 2025 could jeopardise reparations talks.
“Reparations might be swept away as part of the dangerous political shift to the right,” he said, adding that SWAPO’s failure to involve affected communities earlier has resulted in what he termed “a nightmare.”
