“Presidency commits to finalising genocide negotiations
By Donald Matthys
27 March 2025
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to push for a conclusive resolution to the long-standing issue of genocide reparations as her administration takes over Namibia’s new government.
Presidential press secretary Alfredo Hengari says the new head of state is well-versed in the complex and sensitive nature of the negotiations surrounding Germany’s colonial-era genocide in Namibia.
“President Nandi-Ndaitwah is familiar with the dossier on genocide. She led the work on genocide as minister of international relations and cooperation, and as vice president, she was the chair of the Cabinet Committee on Genocide, Apology and Reparations,” Hengari says.
He adds that in these roles, Nandi-Ndaitwah has engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the affected communities, most recently just two weeks ago.
[…]
Last year, during her time as vice president, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government was exploring the creation of a special purpose vehicle to be managed by descendants themselves.
Last year, the Namibian government approved a deal in which Germany admits guilt for the genocide and agrees to pay over N$18 billion (1 billion euros) in reparations.
However, this deal was rejected by the Ovaherero and Nama traditional authorities who are calling for better negotiations.
The Ombara Otjitambi of one faction of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, Mutjinde Katjiua, yesterday said they would like to work together with the new government on a number of issues.
[…]
Meanwhile, in letter dated 13 March, Landless People’s Movement leader Bernadus Swartbooi and 11 traditional authorities have formally written to government attorney Jabulani Ncube, demanding that the joint declaration on reparations for the Nama and Ovaherero genocide be invalidated and set aside.
The declaration was approved by Cabinet on 12 December 2024.
The affected parties argued that the agreement between the Namibian and German governments contradict a Namibian parliament resolution on reparations from Germany for the genocide committed in Namibia.
[…].”
- Full report “Presidency commits to finalising genocide negotiations” on the website of the Namibian (last checked in March 2025)
- See also report “Cabinet approves genocide joint declaration” from 8 January 2025 by the Namibian Sun
- See also the Motion on the OvaHerero Genocide, which the National Assembly adopted in October 2006
- See also the Joint Declaration of the Governments of Germany and Namibia, which was initialled in May 2021