Swapo tight-lipped on German trip

Swapo is keeping a tight lid on details regarding a trip to Berlin, Germany, by party officials, amid talks the genocide subject is on the agenda.A high-powered delegation of party officials is leaving for Germany today for talks with that country’s ruling party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP).The trip has been described as aimed at ‘reviving relations’ between the two parties.Descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama victims of German genocide, who have dismissed the N$18 billion offered by Germany for its historical crimes, believe the visit by Swapo presents an opportunity to convince the European country to reconsider its offer.Ruling party leaders yesterday avoided questions on the trip.Namibian Sun understands it was originally scheduled for late last year when the SPD held its party congress, but the voyage was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Perfect opportunity The Nama and Ovaherero communities have so far roundly rejected and criticised the current offer by Germany. Executive director in the ministry of information, Mbeuta UaNdjarakana, last year resigned from Swapo as a member due to party leaders’ handling of genocide reparations issue. Uazuva Kaumbi, advisor to Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) chief’s council chairman Chief Vipura Kapuuo, said this trip presents the perfect opportunity for Swapo leaders to re-open the door for the restart of negotiations. “It will be an ideal opportunity because SPD is in the ruling coalition with the Green party and it will be a good opportunity. But it will be good to relay the reservations raised by affected communities regarding the deal,” he said. “We understand that their coalition agreement said it would leave the door open for new discussions. Hopefully Swapo could inform them [of] the reservations and allow the negotiations to be restarted, taking into account issues about the bilateral engagement where the affected communities wish to talk on their own behalf, the choice of special envoy and the amount offered,” he said. Nama chief Petrus Kooper also expressed hope that Swapo would, as a ‘responsible’ leader, make sure the concerns of the Namibian people are shared with the German government. According to him, while Nama and Ovaherero people insist to be at the forefront of discussions of reparations, development and reconstruction will benefit the entire Namibian nation.“It will be a very good opportunity if it is done with sincerity and with the interest of the Namibian people at heart. It will be futile for Swapo as the governing party to visit Germany and not talk about genocide and the demand for reparations,” Kooper said. Questions sent to Swapo spokesperson Hilma Nicanor and Lucia Witbooi, who is expected to lead the delegation to Germany, went unanswered. jemima@namibiansun.com

Swapo tight-lipped on German trip

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Swapo tight-lipped on German trip

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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