Genocide deal conundrum: Sentimental value vs Reparations

By Jeremiah Ndjoze

AS the joint declaration on reconciliation and reconstruction between the German and Namibian governments reached parliament this week, it became clear that the affected communities are split along two irreconcilable differences – sentimental value on one side and monetary reparations on the other.

While the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) and the Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) are jointly hell-bent on maximising the affected communities’ monetary claims, the same cannot be said for the Ovaherero-Ovambanderu and Nama Council for the Dialogue on the 1904-1908 Genocide (ONCD).

The latter, is adamant that no amount of money can be commensurate to human life and that focusing on monetary gains is tantamount to ‘selling the souls of the deceased victims’. The ONCD 1904 -1908 is primarily made-up of some Ovaherero and Nama royal houses, which are said to have ‘walked hand in hand with government’ throughout these negotiations.

Read the full story in this week’s edition.