Herero chiefs renew reparations demands

A LOBBY group of the Herero- and Mbanderu-speaking communities has again raised demands for reparations from Germany for atrocities committed against their ancestors a century ago, when Namibia was a German colony.

This time it is the Ovaherero/Ovambanderu Council for Dialogue on 1904 Genocide (OCD-1904), which claims it is the only body mandated by the Herero and Mbanderu people to engage with Germany on reparations. “Since the centenary commemoration in 2004 at Okakarara, where a German cabinet minister rendered an apology on behalf of the government in Berlin about the Herero genocide, our two communities held a summit in 2005 and further negotiations were held with the OCD-1904 and the Council of Traditional Leaders during 2005,” Rudolph Hongoze, a Herero representative, said yesterday.”The position is that we, as descendants of the victims of the 1904-1908 genocide, having inherited the effects of the genocide cannot but continue with the protracted struggle for just reparation for our people,” Hongoze told a media conference in Windhoek.Hongoze serves on the OCD-1904 technical committee.Although progress had been made over the past two years, Hongoze said efforts had to be redoubled.”The Council for Dialogue will hold a strategic consultative summit from 27 to 29 October at Okakarara on this issue,” he announced.He said there had been no dialogue between the German and Namibian governments despite calls from different factions of the Herero community, the most pronounced coming from Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako.According to Rudolf Kamburona, who is also a member of the OCD-1904 technical committee, the organisation could not push the Namibian Government to get active.”We only try and sensitise our Government, they are awakening to the issue,” Kamburona said.Two years ago, former Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab called for a dialogue between Berlin and Windhoek on the atrocities committed by colonial Germany against Hereros, Namas and Damaras.Two weeks ago, Chief Riruako said the Herero communities were no longer interested in cash reparations, but rather in development projects to be financed by Germany.However, Hongoze yesterday evaded the issue when asked if the OCD-1904 expected cash payments.”We want development projects but money is needed to implement such projects,” was the only comment he was prepared to give.”Since the centenary commemoration in 2004 at Okakarara, where a German cabinet minister rendered an apology on behalf of the government in Berlin about the Herero genocide, our two communities held a summit in 2005 and further negotiations were held with the OCD-1904 and the Council of Traditional Leaders during 2005,” Rudolph Hongoze, a Herero representative, said yesterday.”The position is that we, as descendants of the victims of the 1904-1908 genocide, having inherited the effects of the genocide cannot but continue with the protracted struggle for just reparation for our people,” Hongoze told a media conference in Windhoek.Hongoze serves on the OCD-1904 technical committee.Although progress had been made over the past two years, Hongoze said efforts had to be redoubled.”The Council for Dialogue will hold a strategic consultative summit from 27 to 29 October at Okakarara on this issue,” he announced.He said there had been no dialogue between the German and Namibian governments despite calls from different factions of the Herero community, the most pronounced coming from Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako.According to Rudolf Kamburona, who is also a member of the OCD-1904 technical committee, the organisation could not push the Namibian Government to get active.”We only try and sensitise our Government, they are awakening to the issue,” Kamburona said.Two years ago, former Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab called for a dialogue between Berlin and Windhoek on the atrocities committed by colonial Germany against Hereros, Namas and Damaras.Two weeks ago, Chief Riruako said the Herero communities were no longer interested in cash reparations, but rather in development projects to be financed by Germany.However, Hongoze yesterday evaded the issue when asked if the OCD-1904 expected cash payments.”We want development projects but money is needed to implement such projects,” was the only comment he was prepared to give.