François statue removal will erase evidence of brutality – Araeb
City of Windhoek councillor Bernardus Araeb is vehemently objecting to council’s overwhelming vote to remove the controversial statue of Curt von François, saying keeping it is important evidence of Germany’s brutality in Namibia.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor is in favour of keeping the statue as it is.
The statue was unveiled in October 1965 during the 75-year anniversary celebration of the founding of Windhoek under German colonial rule, as it is.
During their ordinary council meeting held on Thursday last week, nine city councillors voted in favour of the statue’s removal, while five voted against such a move.
It was suggested that the statue be moved from the intersection of Independence Avenue and Sam Nujoma Drive to the museum instead of completely discarding it.
Preserve the evidence
Araeb yesterday branded the decisions as "disgraceful" because the affected communities of the Nama and Ovaherero 1904-08 genocide have not yet concluded their negotiations for reparations.
According to him, the statue forms part of the evidence of Germany’s colonialism in Namibia and should be left as a reminder for future generations.
"Why should you remove evidence? Every person that is brainy should ask why this is done. Let the evidence stay while the negotiations of the victims are still ongoing with the German government. Allow the reparations process to be exhausted and concluded. I was not expecting this, because this is an erasure of history and evidence," he said.
Tell the truth
Two years ago, social activist Hildegard Titus started a petition calling for the fall of Von François’ statue, a man who has been "erroneously called the founder" of Windhoek.
The petition proposed that Von François, under whose command German troops attacked Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi's settlement in the early hours of 12 April 1893 at Hornkranz, be replaced by a sculpture of Windhoek’s "true founder", Jonker Afrikaner.
About 80 people, including women and children, were killed in that attack.
"While we cannot change our city's dark and violent history, we can change what we commemorate from that history. We owe it to Jonker Afrikaner, Samuel Maherero, Hendrik Witbooi, and the thousands of Nama and Herero people who were subjected to genocide by the murderous German Colonial Regime," reads the petition.
It is time
Councillor Job Amupanda, of the Affirmative Repositioning movement, voted in favour of removing the statue and described Araeb’s reasoning as "pedestrian and laughable."
"There are many things we need to do to change the heritage picture of Windhoek. For example, you find that all so-called heritage sites are only in town and there is nothing in Katutura.
"As the chairperson of the Heritage Committee [in the City of Windhoek], I am glad that we have put this matter behind us finally.
"Although it took close to 60 years, 32 of which have been after flag independence, I am glad that history will record our generation of leaders who took a decisive step for which generations of councillors were afraid or unable to do for close to sixty years."
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The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor is in favour of keeping the statue as it is.
The statue was unveiled in October 1965 during the 75-year anniversary celebration of the founding of Windhoek under German colonial rule, as it is.
During their ordinary council meeting held on Thursday last week, nine city councillors voted in favour of the statue’s removal, while five voted against such a move.
It was suggested that the statue be moved from the intersection of Independence Avenue and Sam Nujoma Drive to the museum instead of completely discarding it.
Preserve the evidence
Araeb yesterday branded the decisions as "disgraceful" because the affected communities of the Nama and Ovaherero 1904-08 genocide have not yet concluded their negotiations for reparations.
According to him, the statue forms part of the evidence of Germany’s colonialism in Namibia and should be left as a reminder for future generations.
"Why should you remove evidence? Every person that is brainy should ask why this is done. Let the evidence stay while the negotiations of the victims are still ongoing with the German government. Allow the reparations process to be exhausted and concluded. I was not expecting this, because this is an erasure of history and evidence," he said.
Tell the truth
Two years ago, social activist Hildegard Titus started a petition calling for the fall of Von François’ statue, a man who has been "erroneously called the founder" of Windhoek.
The petition proposed that Von François, under whose command German troops attacked Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi's settlement in the early hours of 12 April 1893 at Hornkranz, be replaced by a sculpture of Windhoek’s "true founder", Jonker Afrikaner.
About 80 people, including women and children, were killed in that attack.
"While we cannot change our city's dark and violent history, we can change what we commemorate from that history. We owe it to Jonker Afrikaner, Samuel Maherero, Hendrik Witbooi, and the thousands of Nama and Herero people who were subjected to genocide by the murderous German Colonial Regime," reads the petition.
It is time
Councillor Job Amupanda, of the Affirmative Repositioning movement, voted in favour of removing the statue and described Araeb’s reasoning as "pedestrian and laughable."
"There are many things we need to do to change the heritage picture of Windhoek. For example, you find that all so-called heritage sites are only in town and there is nothing in Katutura.
"As the chairperson of the Heritage Committee [in the City of Windhoek], I am glad that we have put this matter behind us finally.
"Although it took close to 60 years, 32 of which have been after flag independence, I am glad that history will record our generation of leaders who took a decisive step for which generations of councillors were afraid or unable to do for close to sixty years."
[email protected]
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