“Ovaherero chiefs split over cancellation of Red Flag Day
By Veripuami Kangumine
1 August 2024
Two Ovaherero splinter groups are at loggerheads with each other over the cancellation of all their commemorative events, including the popular Red Flag Day.
This decision will also affect the observation of the Hamakari and Otjozondu Ozombungu events.
The Ovahaerero-Nama genocide of 1904 to 1908 is remembered on Red Flag Day.
The event is held at Commando No 1 at Okahandja annually.
Paramount chief Hoze Riruako, who heads one Ovaherero faction, on Tuesday said the group has indefinitely cancelled all commemorative events.
[…]
However, Itamunua Meroro, the director general of another group, fronted by Mutjinde Katjiua, disagrees with this decision.
“The bloodshed at Commando No 2 in Windhoek that claimed the life of Tjitunae Katjatenja was engineered and carried out by Dr Hoze’s faction,” Meroro says.
“Instead of showing remorse and calling for peace and calm, they were praising their ‘soldiers’ for a job well done. There are video clips to this effect,” he says.
[…]
In the past the two splinter groups have been disputing who controlled the Ovaheroro community.
Their disagreements have resulted in the Ovaherero community swearing in two chiefs, Riruako and Katjiua.
[…].”
- Full report on the website of the Namibian (last checked in December 2024)
Editor’s note:
On Red Flag Day, the OvaHerero commemorate the burial of Samuel Maharero on 26 August 1923.