Gurirab urges dialogue with Germany on Herero killings

PRIME Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab yesterday encouraged Government to seize the moment and enter into dialogue with the German government on the Herero genocide committed a century ago.

“The ball is now in our court and we must make the next move,” Gurirab said at the start of the 10th session of the current Parliament yesterday. “All is well so far, but the real dialogue must now commence in earnest.The two sides would need henceforth to talk with each other and not past each other,” said Gurirab in response to an apology by a top German official over the weekend, for atrocities committed against Hereros during the colonial era.But the Prime Minister emphasised that it was important for Namibians who represented communities of the victims, to adopt a common position on the issue.”The smokescreen is finally gone and the naked truth has been conceded,” he said.”It has taken a full century for German authorities but now finally we have heard the words that we had all along waited to hear and that mean so much to the recognition of human dignity and to the souls of our people.”The Prime Minister said the German government’s apology was testimony that courage and perseverance paid off.He said the words of Germany’s Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul at commemorations at Hamakari, acknowledged the guilt and indebtedness of her country.Gurirab added that Namibians had received Germany’s affirmation of the fact that untold brutalities and suffering were imposed upon their fellow human beings.”I have often said over the years:to forgive is human but to forget is out of the question,” Gurirab told the House.Gurirab said Government had to start a genuine process of dialogue to find amicable solutions to outstanding issues.In response to the Prime Minister speech, DTA Secretary General McHenry Venaani wanted to know why President Sam Nujoma had allegedly declined invitations on several occasions to commemorate the genocide.Gurirab responded that the question was best directed to the President himself when next he was in the company of the parliamentarians.Venaani also asked Gurirab whether he shared an opinion that the development funding Namibia currently receives from Germany did not benefit families of the victims of the 1904 mass killings.Gurirab declined to answer the question directly, saying he did not want to create the impression that Namibians were divided on the issue.”All is well so far, but the real dialogue must now commence in earnest.The two sides would need henceforth to talk with each other and not past each other,” said Gurirab in response to an apology by a top German official over the weekend, for atrocities committed against Hereros during the colonial era.But the Prime Minister emphasised that it was important for Namibians who represented communities of the victims, to adopt a common position on the issue.”The smokescreen is finally gone and the naked truth has been conceded,” he said.”It has taken a full century for German authorities but now finally we have heard the words that we had all along waited to hear and that mean so much to the recognition of human dignity and to the souls of our people.”The Prime Minister said the German government’s apology was testimony that courage and perseverance paid off.He said the words of Germany’s Minister of Economic Co-operation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul at commemorations at Hamakari, acknowledged the guilt and indebtedness of her country.Gurirab added that Namibians had received Germany’s affirmation of the fact that untold brutalities and suffering were imposed upon their fellow human beings.”I have often said over the years:to forgive is human but to forget is out of the question,” Gurirab told the House.Gurirab said Government had to start a genuine process of dialogue to find amicable solutions to outstanding issues.In response to the Prime Minister speech, DTA Secretary General McHenry Venaani wanted to know why President Sam Nujoma had allegedly declined invitations on several occasions to commemorate the genocide.Gurirab responded that the question was best directed to the President himself when next he was in the company of the parliamentarians.Venaani also asked Gurirab whether he shared an opinion that the development funding Namibia currently receives from Germany did not benefit families of the victims of the 1904 mass killings.Gurirab declined to answer the question directly, saying he did not want to create the impression that Namibians were divided on the issue.