Herero, Nama leaders unite on reparations

HERERO and Nama traditional leaders have formed a “united front” to enter into dialogue with the German government on reparations and development projects for communities affected by German colonial rule between 1884 and 1915.

For the first time, leaders of the two groups convened at Keetmanshoop on Thursday to map a way forward on the reparations issue. “This historic gathering between the Herero and Nama leaders was aimed at creating a forum to explore the pros and cons relating to the reparations issue,” Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako told The Namibian.Riruako said the leaders of the two ethnic groups would soon arrange a meeting with Government to discuss the matter.”We want to show the Government that we’re not in hiding,” he said.Riruako also gave feedback to the Nama leaders on his last visit to Germany.The meeting decided to set up a committee to deal with the campaign for reparations.The land issue also came up at the gathering.Some of the traditional leaders said top priority had to be given to the land issue when dialogue with the German government starts.They referred to the land their ancestors lost under German colonial rule.Speaking afterwards to The Namibian, the Chief of the !Aman Nama tribe, Dawid Frederick, said the Nama people must strive for cohesion.”We [Nama leaders] must clean our houses in order to succeed in the fight to seek compensation with our brothers [the Herero] who suffered together with us at the hands of German colonial rule,” Frederick said.Thousands of Herero and Nama people died in the 1904-07 war with Germany.Many were the victims of a ruthless extermination policy carried out by the German military chief at the time, General Lothar von Trotha.”This historic gathering between the Herero and Nama leaders was aimed at creating a forum to explore the pros and cons relating to the reparations issue,” Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako told The Namibian.Riruako said the leaders of the two ethnic groups would soon arrange a meeting with Government to discuss the matter.”We want to show the Government that we’re not in hiding,” he said.Riruako also gave feedback to the Nama leaders on his last visit to Germany.The meeting decided to set up a committee to deal with the campaign for reparations.The land issue also came up at the gathering.Some of the traditional leaders said top priority had to be given to the land issue when dialogue with the German government starts.They referred to the land their ancestors lost under German colonial rule.Speaking afterwards to The Namibian, the Chief of the !Aman Nama tribe, Dawid Frederick, said the Nama people must strive for cohesion. “We [Nama leaders] must clean our houses in order to succeed in the fight to seek compensation with our brothers [the Herero] who suffered together with us at the hands of German colonial rule,” Frederick said.Thousands of Herero and Nama people died in the 1904-07 war with Germany.Many were the victims of a ruthless extermination policy carried out by the German military chief at the time, General Lothar von Trotha.