Euro 20m aid offer to be discussed during visit

GERMANY says Namibia has neither accepted nor rejected an offer of 20 million euros (about N$160 million) it promised to give to the former colony under a new “reconciliation” initiative.

Germany announced last month that it was prepared to support a long-term reconciliation programme to address the injustices of German colonial rule in Namibia about 100 years ago. That country’s Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, said Berlin was willing to bankroll an “initiative for reconciliation” to the tune of 20 million euros over 10 years.Germany’s deputy head of mission in Windhoek, Ute Koenig, said yesterday Namibia was still considering the German offer and that it was scheduled to feature prominently on next week’s meeting between the two countries.President Hifikepunye Pohamba will arrive in Germany on Sunday for a week-long state visit.Koenig said Namibia had not responded negatively to the German offer.”Sometimes you need to discuss things in detail,” she said.In August, Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said they were awaiting details about the N$160 million reconciliation project but made clear that Namibia welcomed increased development aid from Berlin.”We want to ensure the Namibian people that the Government never has or never will turn away development aid,” she said.That country’s Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, said Berlin was willing to bankroll an “initiative for reconciliation” to the tune of 20 million euros over 10 years.Germany’s deputy head of mission in Windhoek, Ute Koenig, said yesterday Namibia was still considering the German offer and that it was scheduled to feature prominently on next week’s meeting between the two countries.President Hifikepunye Pohamba will arrive in Germany on Sunday for a week-long state visit.Koenig said Namibia had not responded negatively to the German offer.”Sometimes you need to discuss things in detail,” she said.In August, Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said they were awaiting details about the N$160 million reconciliation project but made clear that Namibia welcomed increased development aid from Berlin.”We want to ensure the Namibian people that the Government never has or never will turn away development aid,” she said.