Swapo MPs criticise genocide museum proposal

Swapo member of parliament Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele has poked holes in a parliamentary proposal to establish a memorial museum dedicated to the Nama and Ovaherero people who were killed by the Germans.

The former ruling party chief whip claimed that the establishment of an exclusive memorial museum would cause division.

Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces in the then South West Africa quashed a rebellion spearheaded by Ovaherero and Nama tribes against the seizure of land and livestock by the colonisers, killing at least 65 000 Ovaherero and 10 000 Nama.

National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) lawmaker Joseph Kauandenge tabled a motion in parliament two months ago, calling for a memorial museum to honour people who died during the 1904-8 genocide.

He also called for the dedication of an annual genocide remembrance day.

However, !Nawases-Taeyele said the absence of a genocide memorial museum does not mean the government has neglected the matter.

“Hence, such an institution must be of national significance. And, therefore, must serve as a learning, research and historic institution for all Namibians. It is important that all Namibians embrace and appreciate such a museum as part and parcel of the collective suffering of Namibians in general and the Nama, Ovaherero, Damara, and San in particular,” she said while contributing to the motion last week.

!Nawases-Taeyele said Kauandenge’s proposal ignores the fact that the genocide has a dedicated space in the independence museum.

“It is also depicted in the mural works at Heroes Acre and, for this reason, Shark Island was declared a national heritage site,” she said.
She added that the genocide museum and genocide remembrance day have been on the government’s agenda, including that of parliament.

Parliament sent a team to assist with technical advice on the possible dates and reasons for the declaration of a genocide remembrance day, she said.

“The final recommended date from the National Assembly, based on the report of the genocide remembrance day, is 28 May,” !Nawases-Taeyele said, adding that the recommendation is awaiting a Cabinet decision.

“The museum under discussion has been talked about for a long time. I am informed that an artistic presentation has already been made concerning the planning and design of the museum,” !Nawases-Taeyele said.

As for the genocide museum, she said several proposals on where the museum should be erected have been advanced, including Gibeon and Shark Island.

When Kauandenge tabled the motion two months ago, he said he was shocked to find a dedication to the 1904-8 genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people during his visit to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Museum.

The Nudo parliamentarian said it was a wake-up call to see that “our forefathers are recognised internationally, but scorned in their own country and their history is forever distorted”.

He accused the government of failing to declare a memorial day for the 1904-8 genocide victims.

Swapo lawmaker Paula Kooper accused Kauandenge of playing politics, as the genocide museum is already on the government’s agenda.

She said the genocide history of the Ovaherero and Nama is documented at the Independence Memorial Museum in Windhoek.

Kooper reminded Kauandenge that the first floor of the Independence Memorial Museum is dedicated to early resistance leaders, including the timeline when the country was under South African rule.

“If enough has not been told and depicted on the Nama/Ovaherero genocide in the independence memorial museum, why can’t we then dedicate extra space or a floor at this museum to tell and depict more the genocide?” she asked.

She said a new museum or shrine, though a good idea, would be costly.

“The Nama/Ovaherero fought almost across the country. I am now particularly thinking of the site in the Vaalgras area where the great Hendrik Witbooi was killed and many other sites depicting this history,” she said.