Reparations talks: Namibia pushes Germany on three fronts

Namibia and Germany recently held another round of negotiations, amid an ongoing impasse over the latter nation’s N$18 billion offer for its colonial atrocities in Namibia.

The two parties met from 4 to 6 October in Windhoek, with Namibia pushing for amendments to three aspects of the joint declaration hammered out last year before it was roundly rejected by primarily the descendants of German genocide victims.

During an engagement with German-speaking Namibians at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) on Wednesday evening, international relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah revealed that another round of negotiations took place with German representatives.

“We cannot give up,” she said when asked for a status update on Namibia’s marathon talks with Germany.

Namibia had demanded a package worth N$1.1 trillion for the genocide crimes, but Germany slashed its offer to €1.1 billion (N$18 billion), to be availed over a span of 30 years.

The Namibian government tentatively agreed to the offer, but Namibians rejected the deal the moment it was made public.

Three issues

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who was invited to address the Forum of German-Speaking Namibians at NUST ahead of her potential ascendancy to the Namibian presidency post the 2024 national elections, confirmed that three issues form part of the ongoing negotiations.

Those, she said, are the amount offered, the 30-year payment period and whether the final joint declaration would bring finality to Germany’s obligations towards Namibia in the context of genocide.

“We are still engaging as two parties – the Namibian government and affected communities on one side, and the German government on the other side,” she said.

“The negotiation teams had another round of discussions just over a week ago and the Namibian side will brief the Cabinet political committee, which must then report to the full Cabinet and consult other stakeholders such as traditional leaders and affected communities."

Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged that there is industrial-scale discontent over the amount offered and the period over which it is set to be paid.

“There are issues that were raised by our parliament, and they now constitute the basis of the ongoing negotiations. We feel, for example, that 30 years is just too long. It has to be reduced.

“Regarding the amount of money, it’s hard to come to the exact amount without knowing the exact developmental projects for the earmarked regions. Can there be additional resources to benefit the affected communities?”

Fully committed

Regions identified to benefit from the package are Erongo, Khomas, Hardap, //Karas, Omaheke, Kunene and Otjozondjupa.

Broadly, projects would include land acquisition, land development, agriculture, rural livelihoods and natural resources, rural infrastructure, energy and water supply, and technical and vocational education and training.

Ambassador Tonata Itenge-Emvula, chairperson of the technical committee on genocide, led the Namibian delegation in the latest round of negotiations.

The committee consists of several members of the affected communities and members of the original negotiating team.

“We cannot reveal to the media the outcome of the negotiations. There’s a natural process that we follow. All I can tell you is that we are fully committed to this national assignment bestowed on us,” she told Namibian Sun yesterday.