Genocide settlement without affected communities ‘is bound to fail’: Zeraeua

Chief Manasse Chief Manasse Zeraeua of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority warned last week that any genocide settlement reached without the direct inclusion of affected communities “is bound to fail one time or another”.

Zeraeua was speaking during the Erongo regional genocide commemoration held at the genocide memorial site in Swakopmund, where descendants, community leaders and government representatives gathered to honour victims and survivors of the 1904–1908 genocide.

Addressing attendees, Zeraeua criticised the negotiations on the Joint Declaration between Namibia and Germany, saying the affected Ovaherero, Nama, and Ovambanderu communities had been excluded from meaningful participation.

“We have been calling for their inclusion in any negotiations because history has shown that once we impose a settlement on people who are not representing themselves, that settlement is bound to fail one time or the other,” he said.

The comments come amid renewed discussions around the Joint Declaration (JED) between Namibia and Germany concerning genocide recognition, apology and reparations.

Germany formally recognised the atrocities as genocide in 2021 and pledged €1.1 billion in development funding over 30 years.

However, the agreement faced criticism from affected communities.

It was not finalised after objections that descendants of victims had been excluded from negotiations and that the package did not amount to direct reparations.

Rejected development projects

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, earlier this year, indicated that negotiations with Germany had advanced and that the government was seeking an improved agreement after parliament rejected the earlier offer as insufficient.

Zeraeua said he had previously formed part of the government delegation involved in genocide discussions before distancing himself from the process.

“I made it very clear that should I realise the process is not going to serve the interests of our people, then the government and I would part ways, which we did,” he said.

He now forms part of the Okandjoze Chiefs’ Assembly on Genocide (OCAG), a grouping of eight traditional authorities representing Ovaherero, Nama and Ovambanderu communities.

OCAG has positioned itself against the current Joint Declaration process and has repeatedly called for broader consultations through a national conference on genocide, reparations and restorative justice.

“We stand with those opposing the JED and calling for a national dialogue, a national conference,” Zeraeua said.

“There is no point in rushing. Why can’t we have a national conference? All of us who feel affected in one way or another should come together around the table.”

Zeraeua also questioned whether Germany’s apology was sufficient and rejected development projects being presented as reparations.

“If they are talking about building schools, roads and those kinds of projects, those things have nothing to do with genocide. It is simply not reparations,” he said.

He argued that infrastructure projects benefit all Namibians and therefore cannot be regarded as direct reparations for descendants of genocide victims.

During his address, Zeraeua described the memorial site as “a warning carved in bones”.

“Each skull belongs to someone who once laughed, wept and loved someone. Now they are all silent,” he said.

He also called on the government to convert the Alte Feste in Windhoek into a genocide remembrance museum.

He urged the United Nations to recognise 28 May as an international day of remembrance for the Namibian genocide.

of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority warned last week that any genocide settlement reached without the direct inclusion of affected communities “is bound to fail one time or another”.

Zeraeua was speaking during the Erongo regional genocide commemoration held at the genocide memorial site in Swakopmund, where descendants, community leaders and government representatives gathered to honour victims and survivors of the 1904–1908 genocide.

Addressing attendees, Zeraeua criticised the negotiations on the Joint Declaration between Namibia and Germany, saying the affected Ovaherero, Nama, and Ovambanderu communities had been excluded from meaningful participation.

“We have been calling for their inclusion in any negotiations because history has shown that once we impose a settlement on people who are not representing themselves, that settlement is bound to fail one time or the other,” he said.

The comments come amid renewed discussions around the Joint Declaration (JED) between Namibia and Germany concerning genocide recognition, apology and reparations.

Germany formally recognised the atrocities as genocide in 2021 and pledged €1.1 billion in development funding over 30 years.

However, the agreement faced criticism from affected communities.

It was not finalised after objections that descendants of victims had been excluded from negotiations and that the package did not amount to direct reparations.

Rejected development projects

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, earlier this year, indicated that negotiations with Germany had advanced and that the government was seeking an improved agreement after parliament rejected the earlier offer as insufficient.

Zeraeua said he had previously formed part of the government delegation involved in genocide discussions before distancing himself from the process.

“I made it very clear that should I realise the process is not going to serve the interests of our people, then the government and I would part ways, which we did,” he said.

He now forms part of the Okandjoze Chiefs’ Assembly on Genocide (OCAG), a grouping of eight traditional authorities representing Ovaherero, Nama and Ovambanderu communities.

OCAG has positioned itself against the current Joint Declaration process and has repeatedly called for broader consultations through a national conference on genocide, reparations and restorative justice.

“We stand with those opposing the JED and calling for a national dialogue, a national conference,” Zeraeua said.

“There is no point in rushing. Why can’t we have a national conference? All of us who feel affected in one way or another should come together around the table.”

Zeraeua also questioned whether Germany’s apology was sufficient and rejected development projects being presented as reparations.

“If they are talking about building schools, roads and those kinds of projects, those things have nothing to do with genocide. It is simply not reparations,” he said.

He argued that infrastructure projects benefit all Namibians and therefore cannot be regarded as direct reparations for descendants of genocide victims.

During his address, Zeraeua described the memorial site as “a warning carved in bones”.

“Each skull belongs to someone who once laughed, wept and loved someone. Now they are all silent,” he said.

He also called on the government to convert the Alte Feste in Windhoek into a genocide remembrance museum.

He urged the United Nations to recognise 28 May as an international day of remembrance for the Namibian genocide.