Reconciliation proves a thorn in the side of NA

FEARS of being dragged to court for possible atrocities committed against fellow Namibians during the liberation struggle preoccupied the Swapo benches in the National Assembly yesterday, as an opposition MP urged dealing with the recent past.

DTA politician McHenry Venaani said peace was usually maintained by the losers, not by the victors after a conflict or war. “Brother fought against brother before 1990 and we must come to terms with that.Parents want to know what happened to their children who disappeared before Independence,” Venaani said in his contribution to the debate on reconciliation.He proposed declaring a public holiday to be called the Day of National Reconciliation.Namibians could then reflect and acknowledge that this country also had its “dark days”, deeds committed by both sides during the freedom fight, he said.”Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo made a mistake when he recently said should former President Sam Nujoma be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC), it was touching Swapo and Swapo would act,” Venaani added.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila quickly rose to say that Ekandjo’s statement was misunderstood.Should a commission be set up to investigate past atrocities, she said, “amnesty will be thrown out of the window”.”If everybody gets prosecuted, it will cause an unstable situation in the country which can lead to civil war.”She did not explain why she assumed that “everybody” would be prosecuted.Venaani never mentioned prosecution.Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba asked Venaani: “If you bring back fear and persecution, what do you want to achieve by dragging people to court?” The debate continues.”Brother fought against brother before 1990 and we must come to terms with that.Parents want to know what happened to their children who disappeared before Independence,” Venaani said in his contribution to the debate on reconciliation.He proposed declaring a public holiday to be called the Day of National Reconciliation.Namibians could then reflect and acknowledge that this country also had its “dark days”, deeds committed by both sides during the freedom fight, he said.”Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo made a mistake when he recently said should former President Sam Nujoma be brought before the International Criminal Court (ICC), it was touching Swapo and Swapo would act,” Venaani added.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila quickly rose to say that Ekandjo’s statement was misunderstood.Should a commission be set up to investigate past atrocities, she said, “amnesty will be thrown out of the window”.”If everybody gets prosecuted, it will cause an unstable situation in the country which can lead to civil war.”She did not explain why she assumed that “everybody” would be prosecuted.Venaani never mentioned prosecution.Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba asked Venaani: “If you bring back fear and persecution, what do you want to achieve by dragging people to court?” The debate continues.