NPC contradicts Govt over German ‘special initiative’

THE Namibian Government says the German ‘special initiative’ is not reparation money and will not only be spent on the Herero, Nama, Damara and San communities in the country.

The National Planning Commission said yesterday that the money was 20 million euro over 10 years, instead of 20 million euro a year for ten years. Last week, a Cabinet statement said Namibia would get N$160 million a year over the next 10 years as part of the German special initiative.”In 2005, the German Federal Republic proposed a special initiative and promised to commit N$160 million annually over ten years for development projects in areas and for communities that had historic ties with the German colonial government and which the present German government considers as a special moral and political responsibility towards Namibia to aid the said communities,” said the statement signed by Information Permanent Secretary Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma.However, her counterpart at the National Planning Commission, Mocks Shivute, said yesterday that the amount was incorrect and that the initiative would not target specific ethnic groups but all communities in the Erongo, Hardap, Kunene, Karas, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions.When Namibia declined to sign the deal in Germany last November, Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku said a needs assessment first had to be conducted in consultation with traditional leaders of the Hereros, Damaras, Namas and San.The Foreign Minister added that Windhoek could not understand why Germany insisted that it was a “reconciliation” initiative when it was clearly money for reparations.”It is the first time Germany consulted us.They were negotiating with the communities and the first time we heard about the issue was through the media.What we are saying is that every step must be taken with care.We have to be very, very cautious,” Hausiku said last November.However, Shivute said yesterday that the special initiative would be extended to other regions “as and if additional funds become available”.Last week, a Cabinet statement said Namibia would get N$160 million a year over the next 10 years as part of the German special initiative.”In 2005, the German Federal Republic proposed a special initiative and promised to commit N$160 million annually over ten years for development projects in areas and for communities that had historic ties with the German colonial government and which the present German government considers as a special moral and political responsibility towards Namibia to aid the said communities,” said the statement signed by Information Permanent Secretary Loini-Nyanyukweni Katoma.However, her counterpart at the National Planning Commission, Mocks Shivute, said yesterday that the amount was incorrect and that the initiative would not target specific ethnic groups but all communities in the Erongo, Hardap, Kunene, Karas, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions.When Namibia declined to sign the deal in Germany last November, Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku said a needs assessment first had to be conducted in consultation with traditional leaders of the Hereros, Damaras, Namas and San.The Foreign Minister added that Windhoek could not understand why Germany insisted that it was a “reconciliation” initiative when it was clearly money for reparations.”It is the first time Germany consulted us.They were negotiating with the communities and the first time we heard about the issue was through the media.What we are saying is that every step must be taken with care.We have to be very, very cautious,” Hausiku said last November.However, Shivute said yesterday that the special initiative would be extended to other regions “as and if additional funds become available”.