The two opposition MPs said last week that a possible reason for "the lack of interest" was that this development aid - in addition to the regular German development aid - was earmarked for areas mainly inhabited by Hereros, Namas and Damaras.

In a statement on Thursday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said: "the Government has never, and will never, turn away development aid".

She said the Government only learnt through the media of the N$160 million offer announced by the German minister of development aid, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, "but nothing was communicated officially to the Namibian Government".

After the German apology for the 1904 genocide a year ago, the Minister said, "we were expecting the German government to come forward with concrete proposals on how to move forward on the issue but to date noting had happened and we are still waiting".

It is feared in political circles that once the conservative party CDU takes over the leadership of the new German government after next month's elections - which is widely expected since all polls indicate a clear lead for the conservatives - the additional offer to Namibia will probably not be renewed.

It is assumed that a conservative German government would never have apologised for the crimes Germany committed 100 years ago in its former colony.

However, informed sources say if both the Namibian and the German governments want it, there would still be a chance to sign an agreement before the German elections.

Such agreement would be binding for any new government.

Chief Riruako, who is in favour of the N$160 million for development projects in specific areas, has stated that he fully agrees with Prime Minister Nahas Angula that the delay in solving this problem "will be squarely put at the door of the German government".

He also emphasised in a press release that he does not accept the N$160 million "as the ultimate payment of the Ovaherero reparation demand".

He said "sidelined initiatives" would not deter the determination of the Herero people to demand justice.

"The mention of the fact that development opportunities go only to the north has nothing to do with the demand for restoration of our dignity, which was lost because of the infamous Extermination Order of General Lothar von Trotha."

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