The Okandjoze Chiefs Assembly has rejected the joint declaration between Namibia and Germany on the 1904-1908 Ovaherero/Nama genocide and has called for a national conference with the descendants of the victims and affected communities.
Kandundu said the chiefs are calling on the government to go back to the drawing board and call a national conference.
Media reports last week said the cabinet allegedly directed that the joint declaration between Namibia and Germany on reparations for affected communities be signed before March 2025.
“A national conference will be more accommodative for government to hear more from the descendants. If government is not listening to the chiefs, how will you bring the reparations in the absence of the chiefs… Who are you representing?” Kandundu questioned.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs' assembly, Ambassador Gebhardt Kandanga said the joint declaration has been rejected in total by a broad spectrum of the descendants in Namibia, especially those under the jurisdictions of traditional authorities and those in the diaspora, who have not been included.
“We have distanced ourselves and our communities from roadshows imposed on our communities,” he said.
Sunday marked the 121st anniversary of the start of the armed resistance against German colonial forces.