‘WE ARE SORRY’

After more than 104 years, the German government has finally apologised for the atrocities committed during the Herero and Nama Genocide war of 1904 to 1908 in which tens of thousands of Namibians were wiped out. However, it remains doubtful whether Germany will change its legal status on the issue of reparation against the affected communities.

The German government sent it’s Director General for African Affairs in the Federal Foreign Office, Ambassador Walter Johannes Lindner to Namibia, who met with Namibian Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo, where the official apology was issued.

The visit of this senior official came shortly after the Centenary remembrance of Windhoek’s Equestrian Monument (Reiterdenkmal) where the Imperial flag of the German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm ll, fluttered. It was during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm ll that the Herero and Nama Genocide war of 1904 to 1908 took place.

Lindner also apologised for the mishandling of the initial repatriation of Namibian human remains by German authorities in Berlin.

“I welcome his gesture to officially apologise for the atrocities during the Genocide war and now we have to concentrate on future co-operation,” Kazenambo told Namibian Sun yesterday. “We should now ensure that we together seek amicable solutions to the problems created during the war.”
Kazenambo welcomed the German official’s intention to visit some of the affected communities, noting that it was a right decision.

“We have to listen to the voices of the affected communities and to hear from them about their needs. They have to understand the emotions surrounding the issues of the atrocities and reparation,” said Kazenambo.

Lindner also met with the Ovaherero community, which was one of the affected communities during the genocide.

“Some of us can never and will never forget the atrocities of genocide committed against our people during this period and particular the Ohamakari Battle and the Ozombuzovindimba extermination order by General Lothar von Trotha,” was the message of Herero paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako.

According to Riruako, their plea is that an amicable environment be availed for both the affected groups in Namibia and the German government to “honestly, sincerely and frankly confront the painful past so that the wounds could be healed.”

He welcomed Lindner’s visit to Namibia, saying that for the first time they believe that the German government is starting to engage the affected communities constructively and meaningfully in Namibia.

Riruako noted that the two major issues that are key to healing the wounds and pain of the Ovaherero are an unambiguous public apology by the German government on the Genocide issue and payment of reparations to the affected communities in Namibia.

For Lindner, the harmonious and constructive co-operation between Namibia and Germany should be strengthened.

When addressing Namibians in Windhoek yesterday, Lindner pleaded that the German and Namibian governments, together with the affected communities, continue with open dialogues, something Kazenambo strongly supports.

“We just have to make sure that the wrong language is not used during this process. We should not use offensive or defensive language but rather seek an amicable solution to our historical past,” Kazenambo said.

Lindner will meet Prime Minister Nahas Angula this morning and also make a turn at the National Planning Commission (NPC) to discuss the Namibian-German Special Initiative Programme before he travels to Okakarara.

click to enlarge DOWN MEMORY LANE: German speaking Namibians pictured during the centenary remembrance of Windhoek’s Equestrian Monument (Reiterdenkmal) on Sunday, seen with the Imperial fl ag (centre)- Schwartz, Weiss, Rot - of the German emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm ll