Schroeder’s African safari raises eyebrows in Namibia

NAMIBIA will be a notable exclusion from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s African itinerary later this year when he makes his first tour to the continent.

But local political commentators are divided as to whether the country’s omission from the historic visit is a strategic move by the German leader to avoid visiting the country this year, on the 100th anniversary of the 1904 genocide. German Ambassador to Namibia Wolfgang Massing has told The Namibian that – although “not 100 per cent certain” – Schroeder is due to visit Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa during the “second half” of this year.The envoy moved swiftly to dispel speculation linking Namibia’s exclusion from the tour to the centenary of the Herero-German War.”I don’t think it [Namibia’s omission] has got anything to do with this [the centenary], they are not linked,” he said.”Africa is a huge continent, it is difficult to cover all countries”.Massing suggested that Namibia had received its fair share of visits from high-ranking German government officials in recent years, with Schroeder’s predecessor, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, coming here in 1995, followed by then President Roman Herzog in 1998 and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer last year.Kohl’s and Herzog’s visits were met with demonstrations, notably from the Ovaherero community.”Namibia is very important and will always be special to us [Germans] for historical reasons,” Massing stressed.A top official in the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), the party led by Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, commented: “It’s a disappointment to us that he [Schroeder] could come to Africa and stop right behind our door in South Africa without coming here”.Nudo Secretary General Joseph Kauandenge said although it was true that German leaders had visited Namibia often enough, “in view of this year’s commemorations it would have been good for Mr Schroeder to come and get a personal feel for how we regard the events of 1904″.Political analyst Kazenambo Kazenambo believes while it might be true that Namibia’s exclusion from Schroeder’s itinerary had nothing to do with the 1904 commemorations, it was undeniable that the German chancellor would have risked controversy if he had come here this year.”Obviously if he comes here there will be demonstrations, there would be those who would like to give him petitions …. so he would not like to be embroiled in all these,” Kazenambo declared.University of Namibia political scientist Professor Andre du Pisani also expressed regret that the German Chancellor would be leaving Namibia off his tour map, “given the important role played by this country in the SADC region, particularly with the reconstruction of Angola”.But Du Pisani cautioned that Namibia’s omission should be viewed against the backdrop of German foreign policy on Africa which was largely geared towards trade, institution-building, market access, and promotion of peace and security.”I don’t think one should ignore this agenda, because this should be the agenda dictating the countries to be visited,” he said.He added that, if Schroeder did come this year, he would not necessarily be “confronted with additional demands for reparations because these demands are already articulated and well known”.Germany ruled Namibia, then known as German South West Africa, from 1880 until 1915.The country’s presence in Namibia is infamously remembered for the ruthless quelling of the Herero tribe uprising between 1904 and 1907, in which tens of thousands were slaughtered by German colonial troops.The Ovaherero have lodged a lawsuit in a United States federal court demanding reparations from the German government and companies for what the ethnic group claim was the enslavement and genocidal destruction inflicted on them.Germany has since declined to offer a formal apology or repay reparations to the Ovaherero.Berlin argues that it is living up to its historical responsibilities by being the major source of development aid to Namibia.German Ambassador to Namibia Wolfgang Massing has told The Namibian that – although “not 100 per cent certain” – Schroeder is due to visit Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa during the “second half” of this year. The envoy moved swiftly to dispel speculation linking Namibia’s exclusion from the tour to the centenary of the Herero-German War. “I don’t think it [Namibia’s omission] has got anything to do with this [the centenary], they are not linked,” he said. “Africa is a huge continent, it is difficult to cover all countries”. Massing suggested that Namibia had received its fair share of visits from high-ranking German government officials in recent years, with Schroeder’s predecessor, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, coming here in 1995, followed by then President Roman Herzog in 1998 and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer last year. Kohl’s and Herzog’s visits were met with demonstrations, notably from the Ovaherero community. “Namibia is very important and will always be special to us [Germans] for historical reasons,” Massing stressed. A top official in the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), the party led by Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, commented: “It’s a disappointment to us that he [Schroeder] could come to Africa and stop right behind our door in South Africa without coming here”. Nudo Secretary General Joseph Kauandenge said although it was true that German leaders had visited Namibia often enough, “in view of this year’s commemorations it would have been good for Mr Schroeder to come and get a personal feel for how we regard the events of 1904”. Political analyst Kazenambo Kazenambo believes while it might be true that Namibia’s exclusion from Schroeder’s itinerary had nothing to do with the 1904 commemorations, it was undeniable that the German chancellor would have risked controversy if he had come here this year. “Obviously if he comes here there will be demonstrations, there would be those who would like to give him petitions …. so he would not like to be embroiled in all these,” Kazenambo declared. University of Namibia political scientist Professor Andre du Pisani also expressed regret that the German Chancellor would be leaving Namibia off his tour map, “given the important role played by this country in the SADC region, particularly with the reconstruction of Angola”. But Du Pisani cautioned that Namibia’s omission should be viewed against the backdrop of German foreign policy on Africa which was largely geared towards trade, institution-building, market access, and promotion of peace and security. “I don’t think one should ignore this agenda, because this should be the agenda dictating the countries to be visited,” he said. He added that, if Schroeder did come this year, he would not necessarily be “confronted with additional demands for reparations because these demands are already articulated and well known”. Germany ruled Namibia, then known as German South West Africa, from 1880 until 1915. The country’s presence in Namibia is infamously remembered for the ruthless quelling of the Herero tribe uprising between 1904 and 1907, in which tens of thousands were slaughtered by German colonial troops. The Ovaherero have lodged a lawsuit in a United States federal court demanding reparations from the German government and companies for what the ethnic group claim was the enslavement and genocidal destruction inflicted on them. Germany has since declined to offer a formal apology or repay reparations to the Ovaherero. Berlin argues that it is living up to its historical responsibilities by being the major source of development aid to Namibia.