Peter Siegfried Krug is an Independent Researcher, Author, and FIDE Master in Chess Composition. His work is centered on The Four-Part Mission for Securing and…

“A Call for a Gazetted True & Genuine National Reconciliation Policy” Lazarus Kwedhi The death of Solomon “Jesus” Awala, who was given a state funeral in recognition of his role as a liberation struggle hero, has reignited painful questions about Namibia’s war past. While many honour his military service as a PLAN fighter and former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, others remember his alleged role in the torture and killing of comrades accused of spying in what became known as the Lubango Dungeons. His reputation as the so-called “Butcher of Lubango” has stirred deep anger among survivors and families of victims, fuelling a wider debate about war crimes committed during the liberation struggle for Namibian independence. This controversy not only highlights the silence around atrocities in exile but also exposes the limitations of Namibia’s current approach to national reconciliation. The official stance—“let us forgive, but not forget”, as declared by President Sam Nujoma in 1989—was never formalised into law or a structured policy. Instead, it has remained a political slogan. As a result, victims and offenders of wartime abuses have been left without a framework for truth-telling, accountability, and healing. The absence of a gazetted national reconciliation policy has created selective morality inconsistency: those deemed liberation heroes receive state funerals and veteran status, while those who served in SWATF/Koevoet are vilified as traitors. Meanwhile, victims of both sides are expected to remain silent, forgive, and carry on without acknowledgement of their suffering. This imbalance denies closure, perpetuates division, and undermines the true sense of nation-building. The liberation struggle in context Namibia’s war of liberation must be understood within the broader context of global politics. While PLAN fought the apartheid regime, the conflict was also shaped by Cold War rivalries between Western powers and the Soviet bloc. Military aid, training, and resources flowed to both sides, ensuring that the real casualties were Namibians themselves—brothers and sisters fighting and killing each other under foreign agendas. Independence in 1990 did not erase these scars. Swapo fighters were elevated as national heroes, while former SWATF/Koevoet members were stigmatised as collaborators to date. This unequal recognition deepened the wounds of those who fought, died, or were forced into atrocities during the war. Communities still live with the visible and invisible remains of the conflict: unmarked graves, missing family members, unresolved questions, and enduring mistrust. Victims, offenders and the community In this discussion, victims include civilians tortured, raped, or killed by either PLAN or SWATF/Koevoet forces, as well as those falsely accused of spying. Many were ordinary teachers, nurses, farmers, and workers simply trying to survive. Some were targeted arbitrarily, their lives destroyed by suspicion and fear. For these victims, closure can not come without acknowledgement, accountability, and the chance to hear apologies from those who harmed them. Offenders, meanwhile, are those who ordered, sanctioned, or carried out atrocities. Some enjoy recognition as veterans, yet they too carry unspoken burdens. Many long for the chance to seek forgiveness from their victims and reintegration into their communities. Without a structured national platform, however, victims and offenders remain locked in silence, resentment, and blame-shifting. Communities were the first casualties of the war. They witnessed atrocities firsthand, lost loved ones, and continued to live with the division left behind. They know who disappeared, who was tortured, and who committed crimes in their areas, but without a national framework, they are unable to resolve these truths. Why is a true national reconciliation policy urgent? The current “word-of-mouth” reconciliation is not enough. It glorifies and crucifies some perpetrators while ignoring the pain of victims, reinforcing selective justice. Namibia cannot continue to silence victims under the pretext of avoiding “old wounds”. Healing requires truth, accountability, and forgiveness—not suppression. A legally mandated National Reconciliation Policy would provide, firstly, a platform for truth-telling and acknowledgement of atrocities. Secondly, a recognition of all who suffered, regardless of the side they fought on. Thirdly, opportunities for offenders to seek forgiveness and reintegration. A path for communities to heal and live in harmony National Reconciliation policy must be grounded in Namibia’s cultural values and traditions, not merely copied from other countries. Lessons from South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and similar global efforts can inform it, but Namibia’s realities demand a unique approach. The silence around liberation war crimes is a time bomb. Without a genuine reconciliation policy, Namibia risks leaving future generations to inherit unresolved anger and division. True reconciliation means recognising both victims and offenders as part of one community, allowing them to confront the past together. It is not enough to honour one group as heroes while branding another as traitors. Both groups fought, suffered, and were used in a conflict shaped by external powers, and both contributed to the peace agreement that ended the war. Hence, both groups—and the broader community—deserve the dignity of closure, justice, and reintegration. Only a gazetted, inclusive national reconciliation policy can break the wall of silence, address selective morality, and allow Namibia to move forward with unity and honesty. *Lazarus Kwedhi, “Omuthima guna Omeya”, is a public policy analyst and a holder of a master of public administration from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia and Germany have not yet reached a final agreement on genocide reparations, nearly ten years after formal negotiations began. She made the remarks on Friday during the 63rd anniversary of Pan African Women’s Day at the Independence Arena in Windhoek.  Nandi-Ndaitwah said talks with Germany are ongoing with the aim of reaching common ground. In April, during her State of the Nation Address (Sona), Nandi-Ndaitwah said progress had been made in discussions over the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Nama and Ovaherero communities.  That same month, in an interview with Al Jazeera, she said she hoped to resume final negotiations with Germany’s new administration, led by chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz. Earlier this year, analysts told the Windhoek Observer that Merz’s election may slow down or shift Germany’s stance.  They warned that even symbolic gestures, such as a joint declaration against genocide, might not materialise under the new leadership. At the commemoration event, Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted the work done over nearly two decades.  “A process that Namibia has started 19 years ago when the Namibian parliament passed a motion calling on Germany to accept that they have committed genocide in Namibia, whereby they have to apologise and pay reparations,” she said. She added that in 2015, the government began formal engagement with Germany on genocide, apology, and reparations in consultation with the descendants of the victims.  “It is hoped that a common ground would be reached between the two parties on the subject matter.” Parliament passed the motion in 2006, officially recognising the mass killings of Nama and Ovaherero by German colonial forces as genocide. At least 80,000 people were killed.  Since 2015, Namibia has appointed special envoys and formed technical teams to lead the talks.  A joint declaration was reached in 2021, but it has not been signed or implemented.  Descendant groups have, however, rejected Germany’s proposed €1.1 billion (approximately N$22.0 billion) in development aid over 30 years, saying it does not amount to proper reparations. Nandi-Ndaitwah did not provide new details on the current status of the declaration but confirmed that talks are ongoing despite delays and criticism. She also did not provide further details on when the talks with Germany might be finalised. She linked the calls for reparations to broader struggles for justice and equality.  The event was held under the theme “Advancing Social and Economic Justice for African Women through Reparation.”  Nandi-Ndaitwah said the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” reinforces these efforts. “This theme also calls for the restoration of justice in Africa through reparations,” she said.  “The wounds that were inflicted by the colonial oppression, land dispossession, gender-based violence, and economic exclusion should never be forgotten. Rather, they should shape our present realities and harden our resolve to stand up against injustices everywhere.” She warned of shifting global dynamics.  “We should be alert against neocolonialism, particularly now that the geopolitics is changing very fast.” Nandi-Ndaitwah urged Namibian women to continue the fight for justice.  “We must ensure that our voices are heard, that we advocate relentlessly for the rights of women and girls, and that we drive forward the agenda of social and economic justice,” she said. She paid tribute to the founding members of the Pan African Women’s Organisation (PAWO), including Meekulu Putuse Appolus, Jeanne Martin Cissé, and Ruth Neto.  “It is because of them that we, the African women, can stand tall having made a meaningful contribution to the liberation of the motherland, Africa,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah also reaffirmed Namibia’s support for the independence of Western Sahara.  “Except for the people of Saharawi, who are still to gain their independence and self-determination, the SWAPO Party and the people of Namibia continue to call on the international community, in particular the UN, to ensure that UN-relevant resolutions to Saharawi’s independence are implemented.”

Much is being said about the reparation talks between Namibia and Germany. To the casual observer, it might seem as though the process has come a long way. After all, Germany has admitted wrongdoing and even recognized the atrocities committed against the Nama and Ovaherero people as genocide. Some consider this progress. But let’s be honest, it is not. It is a carefully worded statement, a hollow concession designed to appease rather than truly atone. What happened in Namibia between 1904 and 1908 was genocide, by every moral and legal definition. Tens of thousands of Nama and Ovaherero were slaughtered, driven into the desert to die of thirst, forced into concentration camps, and stripped of their land and cattle. Their survival was not merely threatened; it was deliberately targeted. Germany knows this, and so does the world. Yet, despite this undeniable truth, Germany continues to escape full accountability. The uncomfortable reality is that the wealth of those who orchestrated and benefited from the genocide did not disappear when the killing stopped. It was passed down through generations, building family fortunes, businesses, and industries that still thrive today. Meanwhile, the descendants of the victims live with the social and economic scars of their ancestors’ suffering. This is not just history, it is a living wound. And here lies the tragedy within the tragedy: the rest of Namibia watches in silence. Why? Why is there such reluctance from the broader Namibian nation to take an active interest in these talks? Why do we leave this burden almost entirely on the shoulders of the Nama and Ovaherero communities? This genocide may have targeted them specifically, but its effects have rippled across our society. It shaped the power structures, the land ownership patterns, and the economic disparities we live with today. To treat it as someone else’s problem is to deny how deeply it has shaped us all. The irony is hard to miss. Namibians, especially the youth, are quick to raise their voices for injustices happening elsewhere in the world. We speak passionately about Palestine, about Gaza, about the genocide unfolding in real time in front of our eyes. And we should. But how is it that the same passion, the same urgency, is missing when it comes to our own history? Gaza today is at the stage where the world argues, “Is it genocide?” Namibia has already been there. The genocide against the Nama and Ovaherero is not a matter of debate. It is an established historical fact. Yet, we are being offered crumbs and told to be grateful for them. Worse still, the perpetrators of the genocide not only get to define the crime but also dictate how they will “compensate” the victims. This is the core of the problem. Reparations are not a favor. They are not a handout. They are justice. And justice cannot be defined solely by the perpetrator. It must involve the voices of those affected. It must involve the voices of the nation. These negotiations should not be happening behind closed doors, where decisions are made far removed from the people they most impact. Every Namibian has a stake in this. Every Namibian should care about how this chapter of our history is written and how it ends. Let us be clear: no one is calling for an uprising or some kind of revolution. What we are asking for is far more powerful than that. We are asking all Namibians to educate themselves about the genocide an issue that, sadly, many remain ignorant about. Divide and rule, coupled with ignorance, has always been a technique used by oppressors against the oppressed. We should not fall into that trap. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it is the first step toward justice. Some may say, “But Germany has apologised. Isn’t that enough?” No, it is not. An apology without meaningful action is just words. True reparations are not symbolic gestures. They address the structural damage caused by the crime. They acknowledge the economic, social, and psychological wounds. They aim to restore dignity, not just to the communities most directly affected, but to the entire nation whose history was scarred. We must also ask ourselves: what kind of future do we want to build if we cannot face the past honestly? If we accept crumbs today, what does that teach future generations about justice? That the powerful can define the terms of their wrongdoing and the victims must quietly accept whatever is offered? That is not justice, that is surrender. This month, as we unofficially mark August as Heroes’ Month, the weight of this history feels even heavier. Let us do justice to those brave Ovaherero and Nama men and women who resisted German colonial forces, who fought against impossible odds, and whose sacrifice still echoes through our land. Knowing what truly happened and standing with those fighting for reparations is the very least we can do to honor those fallen Namibians. The silence of the majority is dangerous. The apathy of our youth is alarming. We need to see the fight for reparations for what it truly is, a fight for our nation’s soul. It is not enough for the Nama and Ovaherero to carry this burden alone. The struggle for justice must be a Namibian struggle. We can learn from Gaza. We can see how the voices of the world matter, how silence enables oppression, how denial prolongs suffering. The lessons are clear: justice is never handed over freely; it is demanded. It is fought for. Namibia must demand justice on its own terms not on the terms dictated by those who committed the crime. This means raising our voices, mobilising our communities, and refusing to let this issue be quietly settled with symbolic gestures. It means making the world listen, not just to Germany’s narrative, but to ours. The reparations talks are not just about the past. They are about the kind of future we will build. Will it be one where historical injustices are whitewashed and forgotten, or one where they are acknowledged and repaired? The choice is ours. It is time to wake up. This is not the fight of the Nama and Ovaherero alone. It is the fight of every Namibian. The fight for reparations is the fight for justice. And justice, if it is to mean anything at all, must be demanded, loudly, clearly, and together.

Zion Cemetery Preservation Society requests funding to honor and memorialize forgotten black graves.

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

City council discusses addressing racially restrictive covenants in Oklahoma's plat documents.

Reparations Commission seeks to renew work, replace chairperson, and address report issues.

In an act of political opportunism, some opposition parties boycotted the inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day. These leaders seemingly hoped for low public turnout, but their tactics, rooted in disinformation and misinformation, ultimately failed. Namibians turned out in significant numbers, showing collective support for national remembrance and historical justice. Among the boycott leaders was Landless People’s Movement (LPM) president Bernadus Swartbooi, who accused the government on television of promoting a one-sided narrative and refusing to unify commemoration dates observed separately by the Nama and Ovaherero communities. While the criticism may reflect real concerns about inclusivity, the manner in which it was expressed reflects a deeper strategic problem. To its credit, the LPM has centred its politics on challenging the government’s reparations approach. Its campaign for justice has mobilised the southern communities. The genocide and ancestral land discourse helped the party secure four parliamentary seats in 2019. However, by the 2024 elections, the movement recorded negative growth, with an additional seat. The LPM’s strategy leans heavily on moral and emotional appeals, emphasising the undeniable atrocities of German colonial rule. But international negotiations are not won on sentiment alone. Germany has acknowledged the genocide and proposed €1.1 billion to €1.3 billion development packages, framing it as a political and moral gesture, not a legal obligation. In contrast, the LPM demands €10 billion in direct reparations. Such inflexibility risks undermining what could be partial but meaningful victories. Moreover, by publicly rejecting the Namibian government’s negotiated agreement with Germany, the LPM projects a divided national front. Another issue is the LPM’s focus on individual reparations to the descendants of genocide survivors. While morally appealing, this approach raises complex questions around verification, eligibility, and equitable distribution. Without a robust administrative framework, such demands may prove politically and logistically unworkable. Without a clear plan for how reparations, if achieved, would be transparently and effectively utilised, the movement risks substituting symbolism for substance. In the end, Namibia deserves justice for the horrific crimes committed during the colonial era. But justice will not be achieved through populism, division, or idealistic ultimatums. It will be realised through unity, legal strategy, and pragmatic diplomacy. – Josaphat Karumendu The post Reparations Demands Need Unity appeared first on The Namibian.

Namibia Demands German Genocide Reparations | Firstpost Africa  Firstpost

Namibia holds its first genocide remembrance day to mark mass killings by colonial ruler Germany  Toronto Star

Namibia seeks reparations from Germany for ‘genocide’  Dawn

Namibia Marks First National Genocide Remembrance Day with Calls for Reparations from Germany  Democracy Now!

WATCH | Namibia honours victims of colonial genocide as reparation calls grow  TimesLIVE

Chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders chief Gaob Immanuel |Gaseb, has called on traditional authorities and communities affected by the 1904-1908 genocide to present a united front in the ongoing negotiations with Germany. |Gaseb made the appeal during the inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day commemorated in Windhoek on Wednesday. Between 1904 and 1908, the German colonial government brutally massacred over 100 000 Ovaherero and Nama people. This period was marked by mass killings, rape, forced slavery and land dispossession, all part of a deliberate policy of extermination and genocide. Negotiations between the Namibian and German governments regarding these atrocities have been underway since 2013. “Let me call on all the traditional leaders and community members from the affected communities to rally as a solid block behind the ongoing genocide negotiations and keep our undivided support as a united community,” |Gaseb appealed. |Gaseb also said he never thought talks about genocide and a day like the Genocide Remembrance Day would take place, and commended the Namibian government for prioritising peace and calm during the genocide negotiations. “I appreciate the government of the Republic of Namibia for striving for peace and tranquillity and therefore I do believe that the government should pursue discourse of the genocide to its logical conclusion in peace and harmony,” he added. Also speaking at the commemoration attended by various government leaders, traditional leaders and members of the public, vice president Lucia Witbooi said the commemoration of the Genocide Remembrance Day establishes Namibia’s dedication towards peace, stability and justice. “By commemorating this painful chapter of Namibia’s history, the nation affirms its commitment to peace, stability and justice,” she stated. Witbooi also added that the day teaches the youth about how resilient their forefathers were, while fostering national unity at the same time. The post |Gaseb calls for unity in genocide negotiations appeared first on The Namibian.

Namibia marks inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day to honor nearly 100,000 victims of German colonial rule  Anadolu Ajansı

Germany acknowledges genocide atrocities  The Namibian -

The San community has called for more recognition of their historical suffering, accusing the government and society of selective remembrance in genocide commemoration efforts. In a statement issued on the inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day on Wednesday, Tsumkwe-based community activist Calvin Kazibe said the San people, often referred to as the Bushmen, faced severe atrocities during colonial rule, including violent repression, displacement, and cultural erasure. He referenced historical records from South Africa’s occupation of Namibia, which reportedly included hunting permits that allowed farmers to legally kill at least one Bushman annually. “However, their suffering is often overshadowed by the more prominent narratives surrounding the Nama and Herero people, who also experienced significant genocide and violence at the hands of German colonial forces,” Kazibe said. He added that this selective remembrance can stem from various factors, including political agendas, the quest for national identity, and the need to unify certain groups within Namibia’s post-colonial context. “The emphasis on the Nama and Herero experiences may serve to foster a cohesive national narrative that resonates more strongly with contemporary political movements, while the Bushmen’s history might be seen as more complicated or less recognisable within that framework,” Kazibe said. He said the marginalisation of the San people’s experiences in official history affects not only their representation in public memory, but also their current socio-political status and rights. “Efforts to rectify this selective memory could include advocating for educational curricula that incorporate the voices and histories of the Bushmen, as well as incorporating their narratives into public commemorations and memorials,” Kazibe said. The post Genocide legacy fails to reflect ‘Bushmen’ history – activist appeared first on The Namibian.

Descendants of Genocide victims pay tribute to their ancestors NBC Online Wed, 05/28/2025 - 16:52

Namibia holds its first genocide remembrance day to mark mass killings by colonial ruler Germany  The Killeen Daily Herald