Rukoro was passionate about Namibianisation – OTA

By Hertta-Maria Amutenja

THE late Ovaherero Paramount Chief Vekuii Reinhard Rukoro who died on June 18 of Covid-19 was laid to rest on Sunday at the chiefs’ burial shrine at Okahandja.
Rukoro was appointed paramount chief in September 2014 and led for six years.

The veteran politician thrust his people’s plight into the spotlight, urging German reparations for colonial-era atrocities.
His activism led him to be excluded from discussions between the governments of Namibia and Germany.

When Namibia and Germany began negotiations in 2015 to allow Germany to admit the early 20th century killings amounted to genocide and to reach a financial solution, Rukoro consistently rejected Germany’s insistence on bilateral dealings with the Namibian government, instead of the affected ethnic groups, insisting on representation.
A tribute from Ovaherero Traditional Authority read that he was committed on carrying out the localisation in all areas of the economy with a goal of reducing reliance on South Africa while also equipping local operations.

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