Reparations deal stumbles

NAMIBIA says it did not reject a 20 million euro (about N$160 million) deal under which Germany will pay reparations to its former colony, but merely expressed a wish to consult affected communities before signing the agreement.

German Minister for Development and Co-operation Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul announced on Monday that President Hifikepunye Pohamba’s delegation declined to sign the deal to effectively pave the way for reparations to Hereros, Namas, Damaras and the San massacred during the colonial era, which lasted from 1884 to 1915. President Pohamba is on a five-day state visit to Germany.”This was unexpected for us because the text had been agreed beforehand,” a German spokesman was quoted by news agencies as telling the media on Monday.Namibia’s Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku said yesterday that Germany wanted to jump the gun with the agreement.He told The Namibian from Berlin that he had personally written a letter to Wieczorek-Zeul in which he explained that an assessment with the specific target groups was needed before an agreement was signed by the two governments.”We are still awaiting her response.We told them that unless we have that response, we can’t sign an agreement.We need to consult the affected communities.They need to be involved.There is an eagerness from Germany to do the signing prematurely, but we want to do things systematically,” Hausiku said.He said Namibia proposed that an independent group be appointed to conduct a needs-assessment study 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,” he said.Germany announced last month that it was prepared to support a long-term reconciliation programme to address the injustices of German colonial rule in Namibia about 100 years ago.Wieczorek-Zeul said Berlin was willing to bankroll an “initiative for reconciliation” to the tune of 20 million euros over 10 years.Germany’s deputy head of mission in Windhoek, Ute Koenig, said last week that Namibia was still considering the German offer and that it was scheduled to feature prominently in this week’s meeting between the two countries.A German diplomat told The Namibian that they were hopeful that Namibia would sign the agreement because there were intensive discussions between the two countries.”The expectation was there.Now we can only hope that there will be further talks,” the diplomat said.Hausiku said Namibia was open to continued discussion and that Wieczorek-Zeul ultimately understood their side of the story.”The Minister understands our thinking.Now we just need her response to my letter.Once we get it, we will analyse the response and decide on the next step,” he said.In August, Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Government would never turn away development aid.President Pohamba is on a five-day state visit to Germany.”This was unexpected for us because the text had been agreed beforehand,” a German spokesman was quoted by news agencies as telling the media on Monday.Namibia’s Foreign Minister Marco Hausiku said yesterday that Germany wanted to jump the gun with the agreement.He told The Namibian from Berlin that he had personally written a letter to Wieczorek-Zeul in which he explained that an assessment with the specific target groups was needed before an agreement was signed by the two governments.”We are still awaiting her response.We told them that unless we have that response, we can’t sign an agreement.We need to consult the affected communities.They need to be involved.There is an eagerness from Germany to do the signing prematurely, but we want to do things systematically,” Hausiku said.He said Namibia proposed that an independent group be appointed to conduct a needs-assessment study 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,” he said. Germany announced last month that it was prepared to support a long-term reconciliation programme to address the injustices of German colonial rule in Namibia about 100 years ago.Wieczorek-Zeul said Berlin was willing to bankroll an “initiative for reconciliation” to the tune of 20 million euros over 10 years.Germany’s deputy head of mission in Windhoek, Ute Koenig, said last week that Namibia was still considering the German offer and that it was scheduled to feature prominently in this week’s meeting between the two countries.A German diplomat told The Namibian that they were hopeful that Namibia would sign the agreement because there were intensive discussions between the two countries.”The expectation was there.Now we can only hope that there will be further talks,” the diplomat said.Hausiku said Namibia was open to continued discussion and that Wieczorek-Zeul ultimately understood their side of the story.”The Minister understands our thinking.Now we just need her response to my letter.Once we get it, we will analyse the response and decide on the next step,” he said.In August, Information Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the Government would never turn away development aid.