Katjiua accuses govt of genocide double standards

Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) faction chief Professor Mutjinde Katjiua has accused government of double standards for supporting efforts to hold Israel accountable over Gaza while opposing legal action on genocide reparations from Germany.

Speaking on Network Media Hub’s The Agenda show on Sunday, Katjiua said the contradiction was evident in government's opposition to Amnesty International's application to participate as a friend of the court in a case challenging the 2021 joint declaration between Namibia and Germany.

He questioned why Namibia was prepared to champion accountability for atrocities committed elsewhere while, according to him, using public resources to defend Germany's position in proceedings concerning the genocide committed on Namibian soil.

In 2024, then justice minister Yvonne Dausab travelled to The Hague to support Palestinian self-determination and efforts to hold Israel accountable for alleged genocide.

"We cannot and should not be selective in protecting human lives. Regardless of who the victims are, all lives matter. Palestinian lives matter…," Dausab said at the time.

‘Paying for Germany’

In a lawsuit brought by the Landless People’s Movement and Ovaherero traditional leaders, the applicants are challenging the 2021 joint declaration through which Namibia and Germany sought to address the colonial-era genocide.

They object particularly to the exclusion of affected communities from the negotiations and the proposed approach to reparations. They also want Germany joined as a co-respondent in the proceedings.

Amnesty International subsequently applied to participate as a friend of the court, but its application has faced opposition.

Katjiua said those opposing Amnesty International's participation included the National Assembly, its Speaker, the attorney general, the president and the Federal Republic of Germany.

He alleged that government lawyers were representing Namibian state institutions alongside Germany, effectively making Namibian taxpayers responsible for legal efforts opposing Amnesty International's involvement.

"We are paying for Germany again. This is the second time that our government is standing squarely behind Germany," he said.

Katjiua warned that the joint declaration could set a “precedent” for other African countries, “whereby the West can now say, ‘Look, we have paid development aid to Namibia, so why not come and do it for the rest of Africa?’”

Weakening leverage

Katjiua said genocide victims and their chosen representatives were being excluded from negotiations, contrary to principles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

He also accused Namibia of undermining Africa's efforts to establish a common position on reparations.

“The second risk is that of entrenching that victims of genocide do not have to participate in the negotiations because state-to-state can decide,” he said.

“Here, we are violating; we are sidestepping the African process. What will it bring? There will be no leverage for Africa, because anybody can do whatever they want,” he added.

Katjiua said traditional leaders remained willing to meet senior government officials to pursue an approach that gives genocide descendants a direct role in negotiations.

Multi-country reparations campaign

Katjiua’s interview took place following visits to South Africa, Botswana and Germany recently that were aimed at building international support for the reparations campaign.

He said the campaign sought to involve Namibia's neighbours because descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama prople killed in the genocide also live outside Namibia.

Katjiua said the three-week campaign began in South Africa on 2 October, continued to Botswana on 5 October and later moved to Germany.

He argued that South Africa and Botswana should engage Germany directly rather than regard reparations as a matter exclusively between Windhoek and Berlin.

"They should not think this is a friendly discussion between Windhoek and Berlin. It should become a discussion between Pretoria and Berlin and Gaborone and Berlin,” he said.

Katjiua described the engagements as successful, saying the delegation received a positive reception in South Africa.

German colonial forces killed an estimated 80 000 Ovaherero and 10 000 Nama between 1904 and 1908 through extermination campaigns, forced displacement and imprisonment in concentration camps.

Katjiua leads one faction of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, while another is headed by Professor Hoze Riruako, amid reported divisions involving Ovitoto chief Vipuira Kapuuo.