Vaalgras genocide feedback meeting

ANONYMOUS WRITES:

Allow me to express my profound gratitude towards the three (3) member delegation of the Genocide Technical Committee, who convened information dissemination meetings in the ||Kharas region, specifically at Vaalgras on 20 February 2023 to break the silence. A comprehensive feedback was given on the Genocide reparations talks, since the motion was tabled in the Parliament of Namibia by the Late Paramount Chief Riruako during 2006.

The Federal Republic of Germany was a little bit reluctant to debate this delicate matter in the Bundestag, their Parliament. However, they resolved later on to start debating the reparation talks, following mounting pressure from the opposition banks in 2013/14. The deadly Covid-19 came in as another obstacle, which put everything on halt. It is only inapt to report prominent leaders, who were the forerunners who lost their precious life's, including the Special Envoy, Dr. Zed Ngavurire.

We, the victims, descendants and the beneficiaries of the outcome of the reparation talks were very concerned about what happened and what’s going to happen next. So, this community engagement was very vital to come and clear the air on the latest developments and the new position paper as tabled etc. We were briefed about the change of guard in Germany and the new Addendum that was agreed upon, although they resolved not to move further from the N$18.6 billion. The usual grants that they have been giving us over the years will run concurrently with reparation funding.

The Team Leader, Mr. Timotheus Tiboth put emphasis on the 1884 Berlin Conference, which resulted in the European colonization and the subsequent 1904-1908 Genocide in the then South West Africa. Inter alia reference were made to General von Trotha’s extermination order on Nama and Hereros, people who went into diaspora, the concentration camps at Lüderitz, Windhoek and elsewhere in the country as well as the hunger our ancestors had to endure, the hard labour and the torturing etc. Some of these people ended up in Botswana, South Africa, Togo and Cameron.

Some traditional leaders decided not to be part of the Government’s negotiation team and took the Government to International court. A Joint Declaration was tabled in the Namibian Parliament and it was rejected in totality. The German Government was in denial and preferred certain soft terminologies only, although having the same meaning under different contexts.

They don’t want to hear the words, viz. “genocide” and “reparations” but preferred astrocities and reconstruction etc. It was made peremptorily clear that we as a third generation have no right to claim in excess, but there were provision made in the Addendum for capital projects such as vocational training centres and building of museums.

The Team also mapped out the Way Forward, the implementation phase front loading of project funds, establishment of the Board of Governors, the mapping out of the Financial Agreement and finding an appropriate name for the Funds. Mr. Tiboth underscored that no money will be put into the hands of the Government, although it will be channelled via the Bank of Namibia, as per the standing procedure.

The Team Leader clarified that a bottom up strategy will be advanced and the Traditional Authorities will be in charge of the prioritizing of the projects. Cllr. Boois divulged that they have already identified some capital projects such as the acquiring of commercial farms and livestock breeding etc, where after they will come back to the community for their inputs on projects.

One community member was however quite concerned about the “breakaway traditional leaders” and how they are going to benefit from the funding. The Team Leader couldn’t say much on the future plans of the faction. It’s only worthwhile to reveal that the Acting Chief Hon. Martin Biwa and Cllr. Aloysius Boois are reportedly representing Vaalgras on the Chief’s Forum of the Genocide Technical Committee, replacing the Late Chief Joël Stephanus and Hon. Willem Konjore, may their souls rest in eternal peace.

The Team Leader caution the community about respect for their leaders and equally warned traditional leaders not to do things that will put mistrust into them.

* Rubrieke, meningstukke, briewe en SMS’e deur lesers en meningvormers weerspieël nie noodwendig die siening van Republikein of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) nie. As mediahuis onderskryf NMH die etiese kode vir Namibiese media, soos toegepas deur die Media-ombudsman.