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Damara leaders slammed

Damara leaders slammed

THE South West Africa People’s Democratic United Front (Swapduf) has called on all Damara leaders in the country to push for German reparations for their people.

Swapduf Secretary General Edward !Aoxamub told The Namibian that Damara leaders at political and other levels have disappointed the people they represent by not standing up for their rights. He said Swapduf was concerned about the economic and social status of the Damaras by 2030 because of the silence of their leaders.”Damaras have been founding members of every political party in this country yet they are the poor, silent and ever-suffering who bear the brunt of misjudgement.We must start speaking for ourselves and that we must start with the Germans,” said !Aoxamub.He said Namibia’s history would remain incomplete until the Germans revealed the role Damaras played in the 1904 war.Contrary to !Aoxamub’s statement, Damara leaders have already started talking to the German government on how they can participate in the 1904 genocide dialogue taking place between the Namibian and German governments.The Namibian reported in the past on various meetings between some members of the Damara community who say they were also affected by the 1904 genocide.Oe#Gan Chief Immanuel /Gaseb and Damara leader Chief Justus //Garoeb and others have also enlisted the services of historians in the hope of shedding more light on how the Damara people were affected by the war./Gaseb said some of the places where the Hereros fought the Germans, such as Hamakari, were known Damara areas.In Damara, Hamakari is called “Ham ra !Khari” and used to be the area for /Gaio Daman.However, !Aoxamub said there was not enough push from the Damara leaders who have politicised the issue and are more interested in defending the stance of their political parties rather than the people they come from.He said Swapduf was concerned about the economic and social status of the Damaras by 2030 because of the silence of their leaders.”Damaras have been founding members of every political party in this country yet they are the poor, silent and ever-suffering who bear the brunt of misjudgement.We must start speaking for ourselves and that we must start with the Germans,” said !Aoxamub.He said Namibia’s history would remain incomplete until the Germans revealed the role Damaras played in the 1904 war.Contrary to !Aoxamub’s statement, Damara leaders have already started talking to the German government on how they can participate in the 1904 genocide dialogue taking place between the Namibian and German governments.The Namibian reported in the past on various meetings between some members of the Damara community who say they were also affected by the 1904 genocide.Oe#Gan Chief Immanuel /Gaseb and Damara leader Chief Justus //Garoeb and others have also enlisted the services of historians in the hope of shedding more light on how the Damara people were affected by the war./Gaseb said some of the places where the Hereros fought the Germans, such as Hamakari, were known Damara areas.In Damara, Hamakari is called “Ham ra !Khari” and used to be the area for /Gaio Daman.However, !Aoxamub said there was not enough push from the Damara leaders who have politicised the issue and are more interested in defending the stance of their political parties rather than the people they come from.

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