Germany in 'honest' dialogue
Several proposals have been made in the genocide negotiations, including infrastructure development, the German ambassador to Namibia says.
The German ambassador to Namibia, Christian Schlaga, says Germany is confident that the Namibian government is in discussion with communities affected by the 1904 to 1908 genocide about their participation in the bilateral reconciliation dialogue “in a productive manner”.
Schlaga was responding to a document leaked on proposals made in September last year, which have drawn the ire of certain groupings of the affected communities.
The proposals outlined in the document include interventions in vocational education, land reform, housing, rural electrification, as well as regional development and support measures.
“Yes, Germany is engaged in honest negotiations with the Namibian government,” Schlaga said.
He said the Namibian delegation to the talks had presented its position paper.
“Germany has studied it very carefully and has responded. As one element of that, Germany made several proposals about how some infrastructure development projects could be realistically included. This is also due to the fact that the affected communities often underlined in meetings with the German delegation the need for further infrastructure development,” Schlaga said.
The head of the Namibian negotiating team, Dr Zed Ngavirue, said Namibia's position paper was confidential.
Ngavirue said proposals were still being hashed out and the leaked document did not represent the outcome of the discussions.
“Germany has agreed to repair the wounds. We are still deciding how to get over the hill regarding the healing of wounds vis-à-vis reparations,” Ngavirue said.
He said the parties had agreed to get working groups of experts on both sides to discuss the reconstruction of devastated societies.
That would include considerations of how to address poverty, restore dignity and other related matters. Ngavirue said Namibia had proposed an amount which Germany thought was unrealistically high.
“Germany is willing to extend an apology, but the question of paying reparations remains a sticking point.
“Of course, loss of life, loss of land, slave labour, and so on, are incalculable but there must be something realistic regarding reparation quantum,” Ngavirue said.
The working groups, which would include input from affected communities, would be starting soon, Ngavirue said.
Ngavirue said the experts could not prescribe what should be done, but would explore the socio-economic impact of possible interventions.
“They need to know the depth of the wound and that you can only get from the patient,” Ngavirue said.
Ngavirue and his team are conducting an outreach programme and have had meetings with communities at Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Mariental, Vaalgras, Otjinene, Epukiro, Okakarara and Swakopmund.
“This should serve as evidence that there are consultations,” he said.
Contrary to what was claimed by certain groups, Ngavirue said affected communities had always been represented on the technical committee and participated on the negotiating team.
He said they were also represented through the traditional chiefs' forum, chaired by vice-president Nickey Iyambo. This forum gets regular briefings on the negotiations and communities can give their input.
CATHERINE SASMAN
Schlaga was responding to a document leaked on proposals made in September last year, which have drawn the ire of certain groupings of the affected communities.
The proposals outlined in the document include interventions in vocational education, land reform, housing, rural electrification, as well as regional development and support measures.
“Yes, Germany is engaged in honest negotiations with the Namibian government,” Schlaga said.
He said the Namibian delegation to the talks had presented its position paper.
“Germany has studied it very carefully and has responded. As one element of that, Germany made several proposals about how some infrastructure development projects could be realistically included. This is also due to the fact that the affected communities often underlined in meetings with the German delegation the need for further infrastructure development,” Schlaga said.
The head of the Namibian negotiating team, Dr Zed Ngavirue, said Namibia's position paper was confidential.
Ngavirue said proposals were still being hashed out and the leaked document did not represent the outcome of the discussions.
“Germany has agreed to repair the wounds. We are still deciding how to get over the hill regarding the healing of wounds vis-à-vis reparations,” Ngavirue said.
He said the parties had agreed to get working groups of experts on both sides to discuss the reconstruction of devastated societies.
That would include considerations of how to address poverty, restore dignity and other related matters. Ngavirue said Namibia had proposed an amount which Germany thought was unrealistically high.
“Germany is willing to extend an apology, but the question of paying reparations remains a sticking point.
“Of course, loss of life, loss of land, slave labour, and so on, are incalculable but there must be something realistic regarding reparation quantum,” Ngavirue said.
The working groups, which would include input from affected communities, would be starting soon, Ngavirue said.
Ngavirue said the experts could not prescribe what should be done, but would explore the socio-economic impact of possible interventions.
“They need to know the depth of the wound and that you can only get from the patient,” Ngavirue said.
Ngavirue and his team are conducting an outreach programme and have had meetings with communities at Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Mariental, Vaalgras, Otjinene, Epukiro, Okakarara and Swakopmund.
“This should serve as evidence that there are consultations,” he said.
Contrary to what was claimed by certain groups, Ngavirue said affected communities had always been represented on the technical committee and participated on the negotiating team.
He said they were also represented through the traditional chiefs' forum, chaired by vice-president Nickey Iyambo. This forum gets regular briefings on the negotiations and communities can give their input.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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