By Stefanus Nashama

Descendants of the victims of the 1904-08 OvaHerero and Nama Genocide committed by Germany have reflected on a recent pronouncement by the Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping that China will support African countries advocating for their reparations from the West for historical atrocities, including the infamous salve trade. 
Localizing the conversation, the genocide descendants have called on the Asian superpower to transform this from rhetoric to pragmatic interventions, such as initiating dialogue with the Namibian government for a broad-based, inclusive approach to restorative justice.
Weiping was speaking at a press conference held in Windhoek recently. He said China proposed the Global Governance Initiative to promote greater democracy in international relations and safeguard the interests of the Global South. 
“We think it is the right thing for the West to make reparations for the historical injustices like the slave trade. It is legitimate for African countries to claim reparations. We are fully supporting such a reparations,” said Weiping.
Responding to questions on China’s position of the 1904-08 OvaHerero and Nama Genocide Weiping said: “I do not want to get into the details of the matter with Germany, but China’s inclination is that it will support African countries who are seeking reparations from the West.”
Speaking to Confidente, chairperson of the Global Ovaherero Genocide Foundation, Nandi Mazeingo, welcomed China’s recent statement of solidarity but urged Beijing to back its words with concrete action.
Mazeingo said while the Chinese ambassador’s remarks appeared encouraging, they would only be meaningful if China intervened to halt what he described as ongoing sabotage of genuine justice efforts by the OvaHerero and Nama communities.
“It is a welcomed gesture if is it not just a rhetoric.  If it is something meant and which the Chinese would want the OvaHerero and Nama to take them serious on, they must start with counselling the administration at Auasblick to stop with the ongoing sabotage of the genuine efforts of OvaHerero and Nama, and by extension people of Namibia and Africa who are pursuing justice through their own courts of laws,” Mazeingo said.
He accused the Namibian government of working in cohorts with Germany to derail their quest for justice.
According to Mazeingo, the State has even “gone to the extent of hiring lawyers to shield Germany from accountability,” referencing a case brought before Namibian courts in September by Bernadus Swartbooi, the OvaHerero Traditional Authority, the Nama Traditional Leaders Association and others.
“Surely, that must fly in the face of what the Chinese ambassador is espousing now, and if he is a true friend of Namibia, he has a duty to… say it must stop, and it must stop yesterday,” he added.
Meanwhile, former parliamentarian and genocide descendant Usutuaije Maamberua commended China’s proposal to support African nations seeking reparations and justice for historical injustices, including slavery.
“China is correct. That statement should be seen within the historical context of China supporting the liberation of African countries, Namibia included,” Maamberua said.
He said China will be appreciated, urging that the Namibian government should regard the ambassador’s pronouncement for as long as it does not interfere with its internal affairs.
Maamberua further reminded that the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide classifies genocide as a crime against humanity, placing an obligation on all UN member states to assist in addressing such atrocities.
“Not only China, but it is an obligation for all UN members to assist those countries where genocide and such atrocities were committed,” he stressed.
The Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) also welcomed the statement by Weiping, but noted that it there is a lot of information that needs to be shared with those who are not direct stakeholders  including the impact and trauma of the genocide.