Nama representation in the genocide negotiations

ANONYMOUS WRITES VIA WHATSAPP:

I am well aware that there were different groups trying to improve the standards of living of the Nama tribe in general and as a whole as well as within the different traditional communities across the country. I can remember the "Nama Ta! Únisen" in Keetmanshoop, amongst others.

However, during the tenure of Former President Cde Hifikepunye Pohamba, on the initiative of Hon. Ida Hoffman, the Nama traditional leaders from the south visited the old State House on 17th April 2007 at 15h00. They raised a number of pertinent-issues pertaining to their leadership and our exclusion from the main economic stream, viz the allowances for the traditional leaders, the future of the Nama language and official transport for them to respond to summons from the Head of State etc.

On that day, Hon. Ambassador Witbooi was posted to Zambia, as they were complaining why the Nama speaking people cannot be appointed as ambassadors, CEOs of parastatals and MDs of various entities etc., just to mention but a few.

H.E. Pohamba advised them that they should establish a Nama Chiefs Council as provided for in the Traditional Authorities Act No. 25 of 2000. On the contrary, they went to establish an Association, namely the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA). The Draft Constitution of NTLA was submitted and adopted at a joint meeting with the Ovaherero and the Ovambanderu representatives, under the leadership of the Late Paramount Chief at Mariental on the 13th December 2007 in the Municipal Chambers.

The Vaalgras Traditional Authority was also represented by two councillors and from there onwards they were an integral part of NTLA, until about 4-5 years back, when they moved or fled out of it, following a meticulous probe in their questionable dealings with the Southern Namibia Hake Fishing Company. This company was registered into the names of all the various Nama Traditional Authorities of the South. All chiefs together with the Deputy Captains or Chief Councillors represented their respective communities in this forum.

The Vaalgras Traditional Authority then moved out of NTLA and until today we don't know who is representing our interest on NTLA, especially if it comes to socio-economic development aspects. So, in essence that is the answer why Vaalgras is today represented on a different Committee together with Chief Mahereo's group on the Government's side by Mr Willem Konjore as the chairman and the deposed chief.

All these things Hon. Ida Hoffman and Chief Dawid Fredericks are stating about who should be on this Committee and who not, should not have happened. Not at all.

There should only have been one Committee, one South as Nama speaking Namibians.

They have orchestrated all this displeasure, division and discomfort. The remaining NTLA members joined the group of the Ovaherero under the leadership of Paramount Chief Vekui Rukoro and that is it.