The damage is N$1.26 trillion – Katjirua

JEMIMA BEUKES



WINDHOEK

The controversial N$18.9 billion package offered by Germany in lieu of reparations for the 1904-08 Nama and Ovaherero genocide remains in the spotlight, with one faction saying government is on the right track and another saying they have sold out.

At the same time, it has emerged that Germany initially offered 300 million Euro - which translates to N$4.9 billion - as reparations for the genocide.

Germany's chief negotiator Ruprecht Polenz yesterday tweeted that the “government negotiations are concluded with the initialling of the joint declaration”.

Gerson Katjirua, Ovaherero/Ovambanderu and Nama Council for the dialogue on the 1904-08 Genocide (ONCD 1904-08) chair, said they remain steadfast behind government although they are not satisfied with the N$18.9 billion.

According to him, they expected a much higher amount since the damage claimed amounted to N$1.26 trillion. He, however, insisted that they have no intention of ‘making money’ off the German government.

“Although we are not satisfied with the amount offered, we believe the stated amount is not conclusive, but will be improved on through further deliberations, negotiations and as informed by the assessments on impact that was agreed upon,” he said.

He added that they were never naïve to expect the total amount of N$1.26 trillion, taking into consideration the economic and political realities on the ground.

However, they had expected a reasonable portion of the amount, which never realised.

“We had to negotiate from 300 million Euro initially offered by the German government until we reached the 1.1 billion Euro,” he said.

Final closure

Katjirua urged government to relax some of the complex provisions within the draft agreement to allow for transparency and to ensure there is no impediment to the implementation of these promised projects and programmes.

“We urge the German government to seriously consider improving on its offer soon or when it becomes feasible in order to bring final closure to our past history and thereby solidify the good relations and reconciliation among Namibians and Germans,” he said.

These sentiments were echoed by Freddy Nguvauva, who served on the official government negotiating team led by Dr Zed Ngavirue, yesterday. He said the outcry over the amount is unjustified as Germany has promised to augment this amount over the next 30 years.

This while the draft joint statement by Germany and Namibia stated that "both governments share the understanding that these amounts mentioned above settle all financial aspects of the issues related to the past in this joint declaration".

Liar, liar, pants on fire

Meanwhile, Chief Tjinaani Maharero, an executive member of the ONCD 1904-08 said Katjirua has no business speaking on the council as he is no longer acting as a chief, which made him eligible to serve as chair of the council.

Maharero also refuted claims that they are in agreement with government, adding that they were not informed about the now infamous amount of N$18.9 billion.

“No council meeting ever took place to take a resolution to accept that amount; it was individual chiefs who decided that for themselves.”

According to him, they first laid eyes on the agreement on 20 May, which is also the day cracks started appearing in the rather watertight council.

“We never perused that joint declaration because members of the negotiating team like Freddy kept it concealed from us and only informed their own selected people. When government informed us about the figure, we objected after our communities objected the amount. But government wants to convince us to accept,” he said.

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