Stormy genocide consultations

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has proposed that the National Assembly (NA) endorse 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day.It was on this day in 1908 that the concentration camps in which German troops maimed, tortured and killed OvaHerero and Nama were closed.A report in this regard was tabled in the NA for discussion last week.The proposal to have an official day reserved to commemorate the first genocide of the 20th century was moved by then Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua in 2016.The committee then embarked on a national tour to reach out to affected communities, traditional leaders and non-governmental organisations between May and October 2017 to submit their inputs on the proposed day.“Germany's colonisation of Namibia, then German South West Africa, was one of the worst atrocities ever, as it resulted in the killing of between 60 000 and 100 000 Ovaherero people and over 10 000 Nama people,” the report noted. 'Crocodile tears'In Khomas, consultations were emotionally charged and marred by verbal altercations.“[They] accused the government of only paying lip service or crying crocodile tears about the genocide. They also accused the government of favouritism, as it pays so much attention to the commemoration of Cassinga and Heroes' Day [while] ignoring the sad events of the genocide. The whole consultation was simply characterised by mayhem, to say the least. This resulted in some supporting and some against the motion,” the committee noted.In //Karas and Hardap, the affected communities were sceptical about the legitimacy of the consultation, although they agreed with the proposed day in principle.“They proposed that the descendants of the Nama and Ovaherero genocide victims should come together and discuss the date to be declared as Genocide Remembrance Day,” the committee further said.The Kavango regions had no objections to the proposed day, but also wanted their unsung Malyo-Lishora massacre of 1894 and the Kavango uprising of 1903 against German colonial rule to be included in the proposed commemoration.“For them, it was a pity that 27 years after independence (at the time of the consultations), it is only now that we are beginning to hear the role some Kavango traditional leaders played and as a result when it comes to events that led to the liberation of the country, Kavangos are left out.”The Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions agreed with the proposed day but had some reservations.“They suggested that the day either be commemorated with [Cassinga Day] or Heroes' Day, but after a thorough explanation by members of the committee about the need and importance of the proposed day separately, they understood the rationale,” the committee said.In Kunene and Otjozondjupa, affected communities and interested parties unanimously agreed with the proposed day.However, some wanted 2 October to be set aside to commemorate the genocide, as it was on this day in 1904 that General Lothar von Trotha issued his extermination order. New York genocide caseThey also proposed that declaring a Genocide Remembrance Day before the conclusion of the genocide case in New York was premature.“That would be tantamount to putting the cart before the horse and could jeopardise the ongoing court case or the genocide negotiations between the Namibian and German governments,” they argued.Participants in Omaheke wanted Namibian history to be put in its proper perspective and that only the truth should be spoken and relayed to future generations.Omaheke residents further pleaded that 28 May was the most appropriate and neutral date for “all affected communities in order for unity to prevail”.There were no objections to the proposed day in Erongo and Zambezi.As for the Oshana and Omusati regions, consultations did not take place, as at the time there were ongoing consultations on the second national land conference.NAMPA

Stormy genocide consultations

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-04

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Stormy genocide consultations

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-04

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