Strife breaks out over skull return

THE selection of the delegation that will travel to Germany to bring Namibian skulls back is sowing discord amongst its members and the blame is laid squarely on the shoulders of Youth, Sport, National Service and Culture Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo.

This sensitive issue has now even reached State House and the groups are awaiting an answer from President Hifikepunye Pohamba. “It is unacceptable that the Maharero Group, which also includes the OvamBanderu’s and Ovahimba’s, can take 27 delegates with them, while the Riruako and Nama Groups can only take 13 members each. The Maharero Group joined only later but now they take up the majority of representatives.

“We are told by Minister Kazenambo Kazenambo that it was the Cabinet that decided on the selection, but we cannot believe that this is the truth,” the Chairperson of the Herero Genocide Committee, Ester Utji Muinjangaua, told Namibian Sun. On 16 September 2008, a letter co-signed by the Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, Chief Kuaima Riruako, and the Chief of the Nama Traditional Authority, Dawid Frederick, was received by Prime Minister Nahas Angula.

They requested that the Namibian Government approach the German Government to facilitate the return of all human remains of Namibians who perished during the period 1904 to 1908, which were taken to Germany, to enable the local authorities to give such remains a proper burial.

In a recent meeting between Namibian Ambassador Neville Gertze with German Authorities it was made clear that a delegation of representatives of the Traditional Authorities of the Herero’s and Namas will travel to Berlin to conduct the necessary rituals and receive the already identified human remains.

The authorities were also informed that the delegation will accompany the remains back to Namibia. “The Cabinet did not decide on the composition of the delegation but requested Minister Kazenambo to finalise it and to ensure that the handing-over ceremony is handled in a dignified manner and to prevent any emotional outbursts,” said a member of the Nama delegation. Apparently Chief Alfons Maharero is adamant on the number of members from his group who should travel to Germany and said “ … the size of his delegation is not negotiable.”

“A petition was handed over to President Pohamba since we, as the Namas, are also not satisfied with the composition of the delegation. At present there are eleven Nama skulls identified in Germany, while that of the Hereros are only nine. However, the total Hereros going to Germany is 40 and we are only 13. A more fair way of the composition would be that each of the three groups should take 18 representatives along. We now wait for an answer from the President and will take it then from there,” said a concerned Nama delegate. Minister Kazenambo did not want to comment on the issue, stating that he will inform the nation once all arrangements are in place.

Representatives of the Charité in Berlin requested that the handing over of the human remains only commence after May 2011 and that the ceremony be held at the Museum and not at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

click to enlarge Chief Alfons Maharero