EDITORIAL: Govt delay on recognising genocide

The decision by the Chiefs Assembly, a grouping of eight Ovaherero and Ovambanderu traditional leaders, to hold a Genocide Remembrance Day last weekend should serve as a reminder for government to get its house in order.For years, government has dilly-dallied on recognising 28 May as national Genocide Remembrance Day, much to the dismay of the affected communities who continue to seek total justice for the atrocities committed by the Germans from 1904 to 1908.One can interpret the delay as government’s indirect way of saying the genocide matter is not of high importance.In fact, how will government explain ignoring recognising the day locally, but on the international front it wants Germany to pay reparations for the genocide?The delay in recognising Genocide Remembrance Day does not bode well with the concept of national unity in the proverbial Namibian House, as some communities will feel less valued than others.Many would agree that very few people will berate government or oppose plans to recognise this very important day, so why then the delay?One tends to agree with former lawmaker Usutuaije Maamberua’s sentiments, while addressing the gathering last weekend, when he said: “It is perplexing that this very first genocide of the 20th century is still not memorialised in Namibia 30 years after Independence”.

EDITORIAL: Govt delay on recognising genocide

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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EDITORIAL: Govt delay on recognising genocide

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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