Chief bemoans deaths of reparation champions

Gaob of the |Khowesen Traditional Authority, Hendrik Ismael Witbooi, has questioned why many champions in the struggle of restorative justice and genocide reparations are dying, saying affected communities must pray for an end to this.

He made the remarks at the burial of Gaob Simon Petrus Kooper of the Kai-//Khaun tribe at Hoachanas last weekend.

In a tribute, President Hage Geingob described Kooper as a champion for reparation and restorative justice regarding the German genocide of the Nama and Ovaherero communities.

Other champions of the reparation fight who have died in recent years are former Ovaherero paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro, Gaob Edward Afrikaner, Ovambanderu chief Kilus Nguvauva, Gaob Dawid Fredericks, Gaob Seth Kooitjie, Gaob Joel Stephanus, Chief Kasauna, Willem Konjore, former Cabinet minister Kazenambo Kazenambo and Namibia's special envoy on the Nama-Herero genocide, Dr Zed Ngavirue.

A number of them died from Covid-19, while the rest succumbed to other ailments.

“Why is it that each leader that is taking the lead to fight this fight is dying? We must investigate and pray about this matter so that we can get to a conclusion,” Witbooi remarked.

He is also frustrated with the pace at which the fight for genocide reparations is going, saying the affected communities must “give it over to God”.

According to him, it makes no sense that these people have been fighting since 2006, while the actual genocide only took four years.

“Since 2006 up to now, it was just talking and nothing happens while the genocide took only four years.

“We have been fighting and nothing happens. We must involve God in this matter now and not just fight on our own,” Witbooi said.

Holistic rebuilding

Meanwhile, Gaob Paul Swartbooi of the Bondelswarts community in South Africa said German descendants should take responsibility for the genocide committed by their forefathers and apologise. Beyond paying reparations, they should launch a full-scale restoration process to empower descendants of the victims, he said.

Swartbooi, a third-generation descendent, also stressed that Germany must urgently offer the Nama nation an apology, adding that money alone will not fix the repercussions of the 1904-08 genocide.

“The emotional pain and suffering of our people run too deep. We cannot just look at financial compensation, but restorative justice and equity. There is a holistic rebuilding and restoration of the Nama nation and empowerment of the Nama people [that need to take place].

“Our people are living in rural villages because of that genocide. I am third-generation and that pain and suffering of my forefathers had a ripple effect on me and on the others who found themselves in Botswana,” he said.

He also urged the Namibian government to recognise descendants scattered across South Africa and Botswana, adding that talks are underway with the South African government to recognise this history.

“There are talks ongoing. Our government has passed a legislation now that recognises our structures within the South African government context. The law is not out and there are many issues that go with it, including this matter and our history,” he said.

Equal partners

Based in Botswana, Gaob Charles Cooper - the third cousin of the late Gaob Kooper - echoed these sentiments, and said they plan to join the Namibian chiefs in the fight for reparations.

According to him, they have engaged the Botswana government on the genocide matter, but the reception was not as good as they had hoped and they are now considering joining their counterparts in Namibia.

“We don’t want to be seen as the descendants in the diaspora, we want to be seen as equal partners.

“The German offer for reparations is silent on the issue of those living in the diaspora. So, we are not sure whether we are included in this or not,” he said.

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