‘We were ignored’ complain repatriation delegatesthe

Minister of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo has accused the German Government of abandoning the proceedings during the Namibian delegation’s stay in Germany.

“We planned our programme with you before we left for Germany, but you (the German government) abandoned us during our stay”, he charged in the presence of German Ambassador to Namibia, Egon Kochanke.

Kazenambo was speaking at the arrival of 20 Nama and Herero skulls from Germany at the Hosea Kutako International Airport yesterday when he briefed Prime Minister Nahas Angula about their stay in Germany.

Pandemonium ensued at the arrival of the skulls when a crowd attempted to offer a heroic welcome to the historical relics. Over 1000 people pushed through Police barricades, trampling the red carpet to rush to the plane on the runway in hopes of getting a glimpse of their traditional chiefs and the Namibian delegation.

As a result, the formal proceedings could not take place on the podium and Prime Minister Nahas Angula and other dignitaries gave their addresses informally on the airport runway.

A representative of Chief Alfons Maharero also expressed his disappointment about how the German government had ignored every invitation by the Namibian delegation and some German Non-governmental Organisations to meetings.

“I am especially displeased by how Cornelia Pieper [the German Minister of State for Foreign Affairs] walked out of the handing-over ceremony without listening to Kazenambo’s speech”, he said. It has been reported that Pieper gave a brief speech in German and walked out right afterwards.

In response, Kochanke said that the German government could not be part of proceedings that involve German political opposition parties.

At the same time, Kazenambo told members of Cabinet that Advocate Vekuii Rukoro lies in hospital in Germany in a stable condition and could not return with the delegation to Namibia.

“He did not have a stroke”, he said, rubbishing rumors and explaining that Rukoro had suffered from a migraine causing his blood pressure to rise.

Kazenambo further explained that 18 of the 20 skulls originate from Shark Island, which was a concentration camp in Lüderitz and the other two were from elsewhere in Namibia.

“The 20 skulls will lie in state overnight and a number of people will remain at the Parliament Gardens until [today]”, he explained.

During the Parliament Garden proceedings later in the day, Kazenambo told the audience that the skull of a four-year-old child was among the 20 skulls.

“These people were tortured and killed in their prime; their blood watered our freedom”, he said, adding that the other skulls included men and women in their 20’s and 30’s.

Angula said that the repatriation of delegatesthe skulls is a testimony to the colonial horror and German cruelty to the Namibian people, adding that it is a tragic chapter of Namibia.

“May the skulls proceed into their homeland”, he said.

Nama Chief Dawid Fredericks expressed the hope that the Namibian Government will not end the journey here but persistently pursue reparations from the German government.

“We worked together as brothers and sisters in Germany and I would like this spirit to continue”, he added, addressing his fellow Namibian delegates.

Paramount Herero Chief, Kuaima Riruako, thanked the Namibian Government for the support in the repatriation of the skulls, personally thanking Angula for his involvement.

click to enlarge BiTTER: Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo (left) attacks German Ambassador to Namibia Egon Kochanke (not in picture) in the presence of Prime Minister Nahas Angula (right) at the Hosea Kutako International Airport yesterday. © Lorraine Kazondovi