Dialogue / Media Reports

Ovaherero, Nama reject Genocide Remembrance Day – Namibian 21-05-2025

“Ovaherero, Nama reject Genocide Remembrance Day

By Martin Endjala

21 May 2025

THE Ovaherero and Nama communities have rejected 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day, citing historical inaccuracy, exclusion, and continued calls for restorative justice.

[…]

This comes after the Cabinet endorsed the contents of a letter submitted by retired speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi, dated 18 March, asking that 28 May be adopted as Genocide Remembrance Day.

Nandiuasora ‘Nandi’ Mazeingo, chairpeson of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation, yesterday said the Ovaherero people, and specifically the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, are not boycotting anything.

He said the government is imposing 28 May on his community, thereby boycotting their “dates, history and own lived experiences and memories”.

“We remember 2 October 1904 to be the date on which the ‘genocidal intent’ to wipe us off the face of the earth was pronounced […].”

[…]

Landless People’s Movement human rights desk representative Joyce Muzengua says a significant faction of the Nama and Herero community is expressing discontent with the government’s chosen date for Genocide Remembrance Day.

“There is an anticipated boycott from these communities, who advocate for the commemoration to be aligned with historically relevant dates, such as 12 April, marking the issuance of the first order for the Nama genocide [on 12 April 1893 German soldiers attacked the Witbooi settlement of Hornkranz, which historians regard as massacre but not as genocide, whereas the extermination order against the Nama people was issued on 22 April 1905; ed.], and 2 October, which denotes the issuance of the annihilation order against the Hereros,” she says.

[…]

Chief Tjinaani Maharero of the Maharero Royal House recently says his ancestors suffered immensely, and having this day officially recognised by the government was significant.

[…]

Nama Traditional Leader Association secretary Sima Luipert yesterday said she was not aware of any boycott and that the Nama chief would pronounce himself at a conference yet to be confirmed.

– Additional reporting Nampa”