Ovambanderu

Namibia, Germany must recognise Diasporans are in Botswana because of Genocide – BOSNOO

Namibia, Germany must recognise Diasporans are in Botswana because of Genocide – BOSNOO

Staff Writer The Botswana Society of Nama, Ovaherero and Ovambanderu (BOSNOO) is pleading with the governments of the Republic of Namibia and the Federal Republic of Germany to recognise the presence in the diaspora of Nama, Ovaherero and Ovambanderu as a direct consequence of the 1904-1908 genocide against these communities in Namibia, then German South West Africa. BOSNOO is among organisations of genocide descendants from both Botswana and Namibia who last month virtually testified before an eminent panel of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on the question of participations rights under Article 25 of the ICCPR.…
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Most MPs dismally miskicking and missing Reparations ball!

It has been becoming crystal clear since the beginning of the debate for Genocide, Apology and Reparations (GAR) in the National Assembly for more than a month now, that this debate was, has never been and is not meant and nor bound to be head and ultimately culminate in a constructive progressive, if not radical consensual solution. If anything while the debate should have crystalised and constellate into ideas towards the way forward, from the verbiages of many honourable members of this August House, this far, with a few exceptions, their contributions at best has been nothing less and but…
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Joint Declaration is no substitute to the Ozombuzovindimba Declaration

October 2nd, was the 117th commemoration of the Extermination Order against the Ovaherero issued at Ozombuzovindimba in 1904. Similarly Monday, October 4th was the tenth commemoration of the expatriation from Germany of the first consignment of the remains of the Ovaherero , Ovambanderu and Nama victims of the 1904-1908 Genocide. Last but not the least, this November also sees the 17th anniversary of the Ozombuzovindimba Declaration. While all these dates somehow are related and intertwined, each, in its own unique way, marks an important and inerasable historical imprint in the sad but heroic historical epoch of the Nama, Ovambanderu and…
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Ovaherero, Ovambanderu remember 117 years since issuance of extermination order

Ovaherero, Ovambanderu remember 117 years since issuance of extermination order

Staff Writer Those who attended this year’s 117th commemoration of the October 2, 1904 extermination order against the Ovaherero by then Imperial Germany’s army commander, Lothar von Trotha, in the then German South West Africa, as Namibia was previously known, saw a really somber and solemn occasion. Ovaherero and Ovambanderu women, as it would behooves their culture on the occasion of also the tenth anniversary of the return of the first consignment of human remains, to typify the solemnity and somberness of the commemoration at Ozombuzovindimba in the Otjinene Constituency, where the order was issued, held a vigil in the…
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Ozombuzovindimba Declaration beckons

Tomorrow, October 2nd, is the 117th commemoration of the Extermination Order against the Ovaherero. Similarly Monday, October 4th is the tenth commemoration of the expatriation from Germany of the first consignment of the remains of the Ovaherero , Ovambanderu and Nama victims of the 1904-1908 Genocide. Last but not the least, this November also sees the 17th anniversary of the Ozombuzovindimba Declaration. While all these dates somehow are related and intertwined, each, in its own unique way, marks an important inerasable historical imprint in the sad but heroic history of the Nama, Ovambanderu and Ovaharero that must not be allowed…
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Joint Declaration debate must have no sham heroes/heroines nor villains

This May the Namibian government and its German counterpart have been purported to have reached an agreement on Genocide, Apology and Reparations. An agreement which has since seen a stage managed opposing views among the descendants of the survivors of the 1904-1908 Genocide of the Nama, Ovambanderu and Ovaherero. With a section of the affected communities embracing the deal, despite having reservations about it, especially the quantum of N$18 billion offered by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. Not as reparations as some close to the negotiations have been maintaining but as a goodwill gesture towards helping a…
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Descendants march to parliament protesting against genocide debate

Descendants march to parliament protesting against genocide debate

Eba Kandovazu More than a hundred descendants of the survivors of the 1904-1908 genocide of the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama today took to the streets of Windhoek to demonstrate against tabling of a motion to discuss the Joint Declaration between the Namibian government and its German counterpart. The motion to discuss the Joint Declaration was tabled by the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Frans Kapofi, in the National Assembly today. The march, spearheaded by various political parties such as the Landless People’s Movement(LPM), Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP}, Popular Democratic Movement(PDM), Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters(NEFF),National Unity Democratic Organisation(Nudo),Swanu…
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Traditional leaders plead with Parley not to endorse genocide deal

Traditional leaders plead with Parley not to endorse genocide deal

Staff Writer Prominent chiefs and traditional authorities who have been part of the genocide negotiating process with Germany, are pleading the Namibian Parliament not to endorse the genocide agreement reached in Berlin. In a statement issued at a media conference on Monday, and signed by representatives of five traditional authorities, the Ovaherero and Nama descendants of the 1904-08 genocide issued a final stand on the agreement between Germany and the Namibian Government in which Berlin agreed to pay about 1,1 billion euros (N$18 billion) over 30 years as compensation. The Maherero, Zeraeua, Kambazembi and Mureti Royal Traditional authorities and the…
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Botswana genocide descendants seek engagement with Germany  in own right

Botswana genocide descendants seek engagement with Germany in own right

Staff Writer Nama, Ovaherero and Ovambanderu Batswana of Namibian descent, descendants of the victims and survivors of the 1904-1908 genocide, are pleading with the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. This for a mutually agreeable manner of Germany owning up to what happened to their forebears in a similar way other perpetrators of genocide owned up. The descendants this morning (Friday) handed over a petition to the German ambassador in Gaborone, Botswana, Margit Hellwig-Bötte, reminding the Berlin government of their engagement in 2017 with Hellwig-Bötte, when she advised them to seek audience with the Namibian government on this matter…
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Botswana genocide victims’ descendants continue to seek their government’s support

Botswana genocide victims’ descendants continue to seek their government’s support

Staff Writer Kazeire Raurau Hangara last Thursday submitted on behalf of the Botswana Society for Nama, Ovaherero and Ovambanderu (B.O.S.N.O.O), a plea to the Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Lemoganga Kwape, for support for the Diasporans in their bid for genocide reparations against Germany. Last month a delegation of Batswana of Namibian descent living in Botswana, met Kwape sensitising him on their desire to raise the issue of reparations against Germany for the genocide committed against their forebears, pleading for the support of their government as Botswana citizens in this regard. Whereupon Kwape understandably advised them to…
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