President Nandi-Ndaitwah calls for unity and healing on Genocide Remembrance Day President Nandi-Ndaitwah calls for unity and healing on Genocide Remembrance Day NBC Online Sat, 07/26/2025 - 19:37

#GenocideRemembranceDay #Unity #Healing #Namibia #NandiNdaitwah

Namibia: What Genocide Remembrance Day Signifies to Young Namibians - allAfrica.com Namibia: What Genocide Remembrance Day Signifies to Young Namibians  allAfrica.com

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What Genocide Remembrance Day Signifies to Young Namibians [Namibian] Namibia marked its first official Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May, a milestone date set aside to honour the memory of the Ovaherero and Nama victims of the 1904-1908 genocide perpetrated by German colonial troops.

#GenocideRemembranceDay #Namibia #Ovaherero #Nama #ColonialHistory

What Genocide Remembrance Day signifies to young Namibians Namibia marked its first official Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May, a milestone date set aside to honour the memory of the Ovaherero and Nama victims of the 1904-1908 genocide perpetrated by German colonial troops. The day, marking the 1908 closure of concentration camps operated by Germans, was enshrined in law as a public holiday in 2024. Youth Central spoke to young Namibians about what Genocide Remembrance Day means to them, and why it is important that young people remember the past and learn from it. Auliki Ambambi (26): “Genocide Remembrance Day means honouring the lives lost and recognising the pain carried by generations. It reminds me of the strength of the Ovaherero and Nama people. For us young people, it’s vital to learn about past genocides to understand the truth, prevent history from repeating itself, and build a more just and compassionate future rooted in respect and accountability.” Chipee Kamurongo (30): “Genocide Remembrance Day means the whole world to me. My father still brings it up – it truly affected their lives, their childhoods, and our community. I believe why so many of us are poor is because of the pain and loss that our people experienced then. The Germans took so much, and maybe we’d be in a different world today if they hadn’t done that.” Tjizakuye Tjirunga (37): “To me, Genocide Remembrance is about remembering and honouring the brutally silenced and keeping their stories alive so that they will never be forgotten. It’s not about mourning – it’s about learning. It’s about acknowledging pain, resisting prejudice, and opposing hate in all its forms. For young people, remembering helps them learn to recognise early warning signs of dehumanisation and violence. It empowers them to become guardians of truth and champions of a peaceful, humane world.” Uerivaka Consuelo Kutako (28): “It’s a serious reminder of the Ovaherero and Nama nation’s suffering and strength. They are incredibly strong people, and this day commemorates them and acknowledges past injustices. Young people must remember previous genocides. It makes us remember the consequences of hatred and colonialism, enables us to respect human rights, and ensures it does not happen again. Learning this history empowers our compassion and our shared obligation to struggle for justice.” The post What Genocide Remembrance Day signifies to young Namibians appeared first on The Namibian.

#GenocideRemembranceDay #Namibia #Ovaherero #Nama #HistoryMatters

Nandi-Ndaitwah urged to unite all Political analysts say president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah must move beyond speeches and take concrete steps to unite the nation. This follows her call to the nation at the inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration on Wednesday, where she said she does not want to lead a divided nation. “I do not want to lead a divided nation. Therefore, we should not cause unnecessary divisions when we should unite to advance the interests of our communities and our nation,” she said. Her remarks follow resistant sections of the Ovaherero and Nama communities, who rejected the government’s proclaimed 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day. These sections claimed that the day was imposed without proper consultations. Nandi-Ndaitwah urged all affected communities to remain united. “We may have gone through different histories under German colonialism and apartheid occupation. I must emphasise that since March 1990, we have a shared Namibian history, which is the foundation for our peace, stability and unity,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah. Political analyst Henning Melber says unity requires more than words. “Instead of speeches urging Namibians to stay united and avoid division, she must appeal to her administration instead,” he says. Imposing memorial celebrations unilaterally without adequate involvement of traumatised descendants of survivors of the genocide is not unifying, but dividing, Melber says. He says the absence of key representatives from the affected communities at the remembrance day reflected a lack of inclusion from the state. “The Joint Declaration with Germany, like the remembrance day, has not offered an adequate direct voice and representation of the indigenous communities mainly affected by the genocide and its consequences until today. Their refusal to comply is inflicted by the government,” he says. Melber adds that if the president wants to lead a united nation, her administration should practise inclusive politics. “To complain that agencies of the Ovaherero, Nama and Damara remain absent in protest over not feeling represented adequately at the event, this points a finger at the government’s failure, not at those who boycott the ceremony,” he states. Melber says the state must correct its handling of the matter if it wants to avoid fuelling further divisions. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah, says Nandi-Ndaitwah can still unify the country but it will take listening and decisive action. “She should listen to all voices, especially those affected by the genocide and Cassinga. She should also promote healing via continued efforts to address historical injustices, like the genocide negotiations with Germany,” Kamwanyah says. He says her earlier calls for “unity in diversity” and warning against tribalism shows intent but added that more consistent engagement is needed. “Encourage respect by teaching people to value each other’s cultures and histories. Empowering young people to lead in building a united future,” he said. WORDS MUST HAVE MEANING Former deputy minister of higher education, technology and innovation Natalia /Goagoses says the president’s call for unity and reconciliation are very powerful but should have meaning. “All the words that were said by the speakers, it must have meaning. It should be internalised by every Namibian and we must leave it. We cannot speak of unity and peace when we turn our backs, then we are divided. We are not giving good examples to youth,” she says. /Goagoses also called on the nation to take the president’s words seriously and reflect on unity through action. The post Nandi-Ndaitwah urged to unite all appeared first on The Namibian.

#Namibia #Unity #NandiNdaitwah #GenocideRemembranceDay #PoliticalLeadership

First ever Genocide Remembrance Day observed - Namibia Economist First ever Genocide Remembrance Day observed  Namibia Economist

#GenocideRemembranceDay #Namibia #NeverForget #HumanRights #JusticeForVictims

First-Ever Genocide Remembrance Day Observed [Namibia Economist] Namibia officially marked its inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day in a solemn ceremony held on Wednesday.

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Namibia marks first Genocide Remembrance Day amid growing calls for reparations - The North Africa Post Namibia marks first Genocide Remembrance Day amid growing calls for reparations  The North Africa Post

#Namibia #GenocideRemembranceDay #Reparations #HumanRights #History

President Urges Ovaherero, Nama Communities to Accept Remembrance Day [Namibian] President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibians to avoid division due to different views on Genocide Remembrance Day.

#Namibia #GenocideRemembranceDay #Ovaherero #Nama #Unity

Namibia marks first Genocide Remembrance Day, renews calls for justice from Germany - The Eastleigh Voice Namibia marks first Genocide Remembrance Day, renews calls for justice from Germany  The Eastleigh Voice

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Namibia marks first-ever Genocide Remembrance Day - Xinhua Namibia marks first-ever Genocide Remembrance Day  Xinhua

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Namibia marks first-ever Genocide Remembrance Day - Xinhua Namibia marks first-ever Genocide Remembrance Day  Xinhua

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#Namibia marks #Germany's colonial genocide of Black Africans in 1904 for the first time this year with a memorial day
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Remembering the Forgotten Herero and Nama Genocide
holocaustcenter.jfcs.org/remembering-...

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#Genocide

Namibia marks inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day with call for reparations - Inkl Namibia marks inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day with call for reparations  Inkl

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Let national interest come first - President Nandi-Ndaitwah Let national interest come first - President Nandi-Ndaitwah NBC Online Wed, 05/28/2025 - 17:02

#NationalInterest #NandiNdaitwah #GenocideRemembranceDay #Namibia #Ovaherero

A day to appreciate Namibian's shared history A day to appreciate Namibian's shared history NBC Online Wed, 05/28/2025 - 16:41

#Namibia #GenocideRemembranceDay #SharedHistory #NetumboNandiNdaitwah #NamibianUnity

President urges Ovaherero, Nama communities to accept Remembrance Day President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged Namibians to avoid division due to different views on Genocide Remembrance Day. She said this on Wednesday during the commemoration of the first Genocide Remembrance Day at Parliament Gardens in Windhoek. “I urge Namibians at large to avoid anything that would bring division among ourselves,”she said. She also urged both the Nama and Ovaherero people to accept the day as arriving at such a decision was not easy and government did its best to include all parties. Her call comes after some traditional leaders of the descendents rejected the day, calling it a government-initiated day. She said the genocide is a dark part of Namibia’s history and must be remembered for current and future generations. She said the day brings hope to all Namibians and shared responsibilities. “We should therefore foster our patriotism for inclusitvity for all Namibians,” she said. She said she wants to lead a united nation and not divided, and that Namibia must be united to forge ahead. The president also said progress has been made so far in the genocide reparation negotiations, but that the German and Namibian governments are yet to come to a final agreement. The post President urges Ovaherero, Nama communities to accept Remembrance Day appeared first on The Namibian.

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Anger mounts over Genocide Day plans Erasmus Shalihaxwe Political leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the Genocide Remembrance Day programme. Today marks the first commemoration of the day after the Cabinet declared 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day last year.  The event will take place this morning at Parliament Gardens in Windhoek. Joseph Kauandenge, leader of the Association for Localised Interest (ASOLI), expressed disappointment that traditional chiefs from genocide-descended communities would not speak at the event.  The official programme shows that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi, and Council of Traditional Leaders Chairperson Gaob Immanuel Gaseb will be the main speakers. Kauandenge said the government failed to include key voices.  “The administration of President Ndaitwah has erred greatly, and history will record this as a travesty and a slap in the face of those descendants’ truthful representatives, who have been ignored on purpose,” he said. He said it is wrong for the government to exclude the affected communities on a day meant for them to remember the suffering of their ancestors.  “President Ndaitwah must take note that history will not be kind to her and her administration. At its first official commemoration, she chose to ignore the very same people who had fought tooth and nail to have this day declared a public holiday in remembrance of their fallen heroes. Her government should have been extra sensitive to the descendants by combining the government official programme with inputs from the affected communities as well,” Kauandenge said. He added that the descendants and their traditional chiefs do not feel part of the event.  “So in the final analysis, the various traditional chiefs are correct to say it’s a government-owned program, and it has nothing to do with the descendants. Sad but true,” he said. Leaders from the Ovaherero and Nama communities said they will not attend the official event. Hours before the ceremony, the Damaran (ǂNûkhoen) community launched its own Genocide Remembrance Day programme.  It will take place at A. Shipena Secondary School Hall.  The two-day event includes poetry, genocide storytelling, history presentations, youth performances, and a night vigil at Katutura Cemetery.  The organisers said the program aims to honour ancestors who were “humiliated, robbed of their land, sold as slaves, and massacred” and to remember them in a cultural way.  A morning devotion will be held before participants can choose to join the national ceremony. Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) member Maximilliant Katjimune also criticised the event.  “I’ve just seen the programme for the first genocide commemoration, and I have to say that it is bitterly disappointing and shocking, to say the least. I would have thought that since it was the first commemoration, the program ought to have more weight added to it. Firstly, I’m not sure whether Parliament Gardens is an appropriate venue for such an event to begin with,” he said  He added that there seems to be a gross under-representation of the affected communities in the mere two-hour programme.  “One would have expected that this event would provide an opportunity for cultural performances and displays that reflect the atrocities of the genocide, but there are none included in the programme. The programme is just bleak. More than 100 000 Namibians lost their lives during the genocide. The programme, with all due respect, does not reflect the severity of this,” Katjimune said. Tensions over the programme come as communities still feel excluded from the German-Namibian negotiations on the genocide deal. The €1.1 billion (about N$22 billion) offer Germany pledged over 30 years for development in affected areas remains unfinalised.

#GenocideRemembranceDay #Genocide #HumanRights #Namibia #ParliamentGardens

Genocide Remembrance Day: A Path Towards Reconciliation Namibia is set to commemorate Genocide Remembrance Day for the first time tomorrow. The day was chosen following a Cabinet decision after consultation with a range of affected community leaders. This article looks at the significance of Genocide Remembrance Day as a step towards reconciliation. First, a brief background: Between 1904-1908, Germany launched an ethnic extermination against the Nama and Ovaherero people. It was the first genocide of the 20th century – over 100 000 Ovaherero and Namas were killed. After Namibia gained independence in 1990, the new government started genocide negotiations with Germany, which have not been without controversy. In 2018, Germany returned skulls and other remains of massacred Namibians used in colonial-era experiments to assert claims of European racial superiority. TOWARDS HEALING Genocide Remembrance Day signifies a milestone for Namibians in their steadfastness against past injustices. It is a day that symbolises peace and unity. It also symbolises the bravery of our forefathers – Hendrik Witbooi and Samuel Maharero – in the struggle for freedom. Their valour inspired our late founding president, Sam Nujoma, to continue where they left off in the fight for independence. Reconciliation is an important step in the transformation of societies divided by past injustices. Joanna Santa-Barbara, a psychiatrist and peace activist, defines reconciliation as restoring a state of peace to a relationship where the entities are at least not harming each other, and can begin to be trusted not to do so in future. It means that revenge is foregone as an option. Reconciliation involves a long-term process of telling the truth about the harm done in order to heal, acknowledging atrocities, apologising to the victims wholeheartedly, genuinely asking for forgiveness and an assurance that it will never happen again, and providing justice in the form of restitution. MOVING FORWARD The restitution process between Namibia and Germany remains deadlocked. However, it is hoped that the remembrance day will change Germany’s heart and attitude and help finalise that process.  In summary, Genocide Remembrance Day can mark the beginning of a better road towards forgiveness and justice between Namibia and Germany. This road is necessary in Namibia’s quest for healing from past injustices. * Collen Kurana is a doctor of philosophy student in peace studies at the Durban University of Technology. The post Genocide Remembrance Day: A Path Towards Reconciliation appeared first on The Namibian.

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Pick-Up Points for Genocide Remembrance Day Revised [Namibian] The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology on Saturday announced revised pick-up points for the Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration in Windhoek.

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Pick-up points for Genocide Remembrance Day revised The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology on Saturday announced revised pick-up points for the Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration in Windhoek. The revision facilitates the smooth transport of attendees to and from the event at Parliament Gardens. Municipal buses will begin pick-ups at the following locations from 07h00 on 28 May: John Pandeni constituency at A Shipena, UN Plaza, Wanaheda bus stop, Soweto Market, Grysblock bus stop and Freedomland Mobile Police Station. Katutura Central constituency at Malaka Draai bus stop, Damara bus stop, Single Quarter bus stop, Soccer House, Gemengde, Miami, Old Rank 7 and Pick and Pay (Old Black Chain) bus stops. Tobias Hainyeko constituency at the Woman Centre, Rank 88, Olyeeta Market, Okahandja Park open market, Okahandja Park four-way, Oshitenda bus stop, the constituency office and rank 80/80. Moses Garoeb constituency at Ombili bus stop, Moses Garoeb constituency office, Havana, Kabila and Omulunga bus stops. Khomasdal constituency at 7 De Laan and 8 De Laan bus stops, Otjomuise shops, Otjomuise bus stops 1, 2 and 3, Augustinium gate, Otjomuise fire station, Khomasdal Stadium, Gemeentskap Hall, Khomasdal Community Hall, and VTC gate. Samora Machel constituency at Greenwell Matongo bus stop, Oshakati Service Station bus stop, Ivory Coast (Monte Cristo Road), Matshitshi bus stop, including all Havana suburbs – Soccer Field Green Mountain Road, as well as all three bus stops in Eveline Street. Windhoek Rural constituency at Mix settlement, Groot Aub settlement, Dordabis, Nauaspoort, and Khanubeb. Windhoek East and West constituencies at Suiderhof bus stop, Eros Post Office, Hidas Shopping Centre bus stop, University of Namibia main campus, International University of Management main campus, Namibia University of Science and Technology main campus, and Khomasdal campus. Members of the public are advised to be on time and avoid carrying weapons. Buses from other regions will depart at 06h00 on 27 May from the respective governor’s office, or constituency office in the case of Khorixas. “Members of the public who wish to attend the commemoration are advised to register at the governor’s offices in their respective regions in advance,” says the ministry. The post Pick-up points for Genocide Remembrance Day revised appeared first on The Namibian.

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Maamberua reflects on the origins of Genocide Remembrance Day Maamberua reflects on the origins of Genocide Remembrance Day NBC Online Thu, 05/22/2025 - 17:36

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Preparations in full swing for maiden Genocide remembrance day Preparations in full swing for maiden Genocide remembrance day NBC Online Thu, 05/22/2025 - 17:01

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Namibia: First Genocide Remembrance Day to Be Marked At Parliament Gardens With Public Holiday - allAfrica.com Namibia: First Genocide Remembrance Day to Be Marked At Parliament Gardens With Public Holiday  allAfrica.com

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First Genocide Remembrance Day to Be Marked At Parliament Gardens With Public Holiday [Namibian] Ministry of Information and Communication Technology executive director Audrin Mathe says Namibia will mark the first-ever Genocide Remembrance Day at Parliament Gardens.

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INTERVIEW | Namibia to mark first Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May INTERVIEW | Namibia to mark first Genocide Remembrance Day on 28 May NBC Online Tue, 05/13/2025 - 20:13

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Leaders Welcome Genocide Remembrance Day [New Era] Traditional leaders in the //Kharas and Hardap regions have expressed strong support for the upcoming commemoration of the first Genocide Remembrance Day.

#GenocideRemembranceDay #Namibia #TraditionalLeaders #Kharas #Hardap

Traditional Leaders Endorse Genocide Remembrance Day Traditional Leaders Endorse Genocide Remembrance Day NBC Online Sat, 04/26/2025 - 15:45

#GenocideRemembranceDay #TraditionalLeaders #OmahekeRegion #Commemoration #HistoricalAwareness

We were honored to have a scout group present us with the colors this week bearing the Armenian Flag, recognizing the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Understanding the way genocide occurs is important in ensuring it does not happen again.
#genocideremembranceday #CALeg

110 years of denial. #genocideremembranceday 🇦🇲