Vice president Lucia Witbooi has lauded traditional leaders in the Omaheke region for their tireless efforts in addressing governmental matters, including the genocide reparation issue.
Witbooi said this during her ongoing engagement with the traditional leaders of genocide-affected communities at Gobabis on Tuesday.
“You are always attending in large numbers, leaving your pre-planned family or work-related commitments.
“You are highly appreciated for this,” she said.
Witbooi was delegated by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to meet with the traditional leaders.
The main reason for her visit was to formally inform and invite the traditional leaders to the official commemoration of Genocide Remembrance Day in Windhoek on 28 May.
Witbooi also expressed her gratitude for the tireless dedication and commitment traditional leaders have always shown to the genocide negotiation process.
“Despite difficult circumstances, you are steadfastly behind this process, which is a clear indication that you are serving the interest of our community,” she said.
Witbooi said the arrival of German colonial forces had the solitary aim of land dispossession.
This caused conflict with local inhabitants or indigenous people, mainly the Nama, Ovaherero, Ovambanderu, Damara, and San.
It resulted in numerous battles fought to resist illegal land and livestock dispossession, and other heinous crimes such as forced labour, rape, and degrading and inhumane treatment.
“These are the main atrocities committed by German colonial forces that culminated first in the genocidal decree of general Theodore Leutwein against the Ovambanderu community in 1896, and then in the 1904 and 1905 genocidal decrees or proclamations by general Lothar von Trotha against the Ovaherero and Nama communities,” she said.
Genocide Remembrance Day was officially declared a public holiday by president Nangolo Mbumba last year.
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