The recognition of 28 May as Namibia’s official Genocide Remembrance Day is a historic and commendable step by the Namibian government.
For many descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama genocide, this recognition represents more than a date on the calendar. It represents acknowledgment, remembrance and national acceptance of one of the darkest chapters in our history.
As a descendant of the Ovaherero community and also someone whose great-grandfather was of German descent, I understand the emotional complexity surrounding this discussion.
History has left many families carrying both pain and difficult connections. Yet I believe this reality should encourage reconciliation, understanding and unity instead of deepening divisions among our people.
There are sincere and understandable views within sections of the Ovaherero community that 2 October should have been selected instead of 28 May.
Their argument is rooted in history because 2 October marks the date when general Lothar von Trotha issued the infamous extermination order against the Ovaherero people in 1904. For many, that decree symbolised the formal declaration of genocide and, therefore, carries profound historical significance.
These sentiments deserve respect. Our history must never be simplified, ignored, or politicised in a way that dismisses the pain carried by descendants of the victims.
However, while we may differ on dates, we should not differ on purpose. The greater objective must remain remembrance, justice, education, healing and the preservation of our collective memory.
The official recognition of 28 May should, therefore, be viewed as a positive foundation upon which the nation can continue to build. It is an opportunity to institutionalise remembrance at a national level and ensure that future generations understand the suffering endured by our ancestors under German colonial rule.
Most importantly, this day must become more than a symbolic public holiday. It must become a platform for education and community empowerment.
Schools, churches, traditional leaders, youth organisations and civil society must use this occasion to teach history truthfully and responsibly. Young Namibians must understand not only the genocide itself, but also the resilience, dignity and courage of those who survived unimaginable suffering.
As the Ovaherero people, we must also avoid allowing internal disagreements to weaken our unity.
Our ancestors endured displacement, concentration camps, confiscation of land and livestock, and systematic destruction of their communities.
They survived because they remained resilient as a people. Today, our responsibility is to honour that resilience by strengthening unity within our communities and working together for the betterment of future generations.
We should rally behind constructive national dialogue and support initiatives that promote healing and development.
Genocide remembrance should inspire community upliftment programmes, preservation of culture and language, support for youth education, and economic empowerment for affected communities.
Remembering history must also mean rebuilding lives and restoring dignity.
Furthermore, this moment presents Namibia with an opportunity to demonstrate maturity as a nation.
Nations grow stronger when they confront their painful histories honestly and collectively. Recognition does not erase the past, but it allows a society to acknowledge it openly and commit itself to a future guided by justice, humanity and reconciliation.
As descendants of survivors, we must ensure that remembrance does not become a source of endless division among ourselves. Instead, let it become a bridge that connects generations, communities and former adversaries in pursuit of truth and healing.
The recognition of 28 May is, therefore, not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning of a broader national commitment to memory, unity, awareness and community building. Let us embrace it in that spirit.
In honouring the past together, we strengthen the future together.
– Kavezemburuka Mujoro is a Namibian citizen and a descendant of the victims of the German genocide.
