By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa
WINDHOEK – Hundreds of Ovaherero and Ovambanderu from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa will next week on Friday gather in Tsau, Botswana to commemorate the OvaHerero genocide.
The planned gathering will also commemorate the resistance against German imperialists.
In is estimated that during 1904-1907 over 65 000 Otjiherero speaking people were massacred by the imperial colonial German troops while others lost their cattle, land and dignity.
The event is scheduled for next weekend 18 – 20 July and is expected to attract hundreds of Otjiherero people from the three countries .
Otjiserandu (Red Flag) spokesperson in Botswana, Maun Tjiumbu Tjimunjo, said everything is going according to plan and a lot of people are expected to attend this year’s commemmoration.
“We are expecting more people from Namibia this year,” said the Red Flag spokesman.
Tjimunjo said among issues to be discussed at the commemoration will be the issue of reparation.
During the beginning of the year a number of Ovaherero people living in that country requested permission from the Botswana government to return to Namibia.
According to Tjimunjo to date they haven’t heard anything from both governments.
“This is why we need to discuss this issue so that we can have direction on what steps to take,” he said.
He further said the organising committee invited traditional chiefs from various Ovaherero traditional houses in Namibia and they are still waiting for confirmation.
However, the spokesperson of the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu Genocide Foundation Utjiua Muinjangue said they had not yet received the invitation.