Africa-Press – Namibia. YOUTH activist and traditional councillor of the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority Ileni Henguva says Namibians should use the current deal on the genocide reprarations as a stepping stone for further negotiations.
Speaking to Desert Radio 95.3 FM this week, Henguva said although there are some concerns surrounding the 1,1 billion euro deal (about N$19,5 billion at the current exchange rate), Namibians should acknowledge the fact that this is an opportunity to move a step further.
“We should acknowledge the fact that we have moved a step ahead, so we should see how we can move from the current draft, and if the German government would still be able to listen to complaints from some sectors in the country,” he said.
Henguva, however, said the deal is long overdue and he was satisfied with the fact that the German government came to the negotiation table.
“But if you look at the document you will see that the drafters from the German side may not have negotiated in good faith.
When you read the document, the language is showing there seems to be a hide-and-seek scenario,” he said.
AMOUNT
“I am with those who are saying it is not enough . . . This is a negotiated deal, so we should continue negotiating and debating about it,” Henguva said on the proposed amount for the reparations.
He said there is, however, hope for Namibians to engage in discussions with the new German government.
“From what I understand, the three parties that are forming a coalition which are to lead the German government are prepared to use this agreement as a stepping stone for the new relationship between Namibia and Germany,” he said.
Sima Luiperdt of the Nama Traditional Leaders Association says she does not know what the new German government’s plan on the genocide deal is.
She says the association is willing to use international legal instruments to force the German government to heed their calls.
“There are international legal instruments that are there to protect the rights of minority groups and indegenous people. We will use those instruments . . . so we are asking the German government to talk to us,” she says.
Luiperdt says the association is in the process of appealing to the German government.
Israel Kaunatjike, a representative of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, says they are not satisfied with the current deal, adding that the German government has to engage with the affected communities directly.
He says the authority wants Germany to apologise directly to the affected communities, adding that the German government has been dismissive during the course of the negotiations.
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