Windhoek
Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama people from Namibia, Botswana and South Africa will this weekend convene at Okakarara in the Otjozondjupa Region to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the famous Battle of Ohamakari.
The Battle of Ohamakari broke out on August 11, 1904 between the OvaHerero and German imperial armed forces. The battle saw the locals retreating deep into the Kalahari Desert, where many succumbed to thirst and starvation, with only a few making it across the border into the then British Protectorate of Bechuanaland – modern day Botswana.
The attendant groups will be led by OvaHerero Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro and Chief of the !Aman Traditional Authority David Fredericks of Bethanie.
Speaking to New Era this week, Kambanda Veii, the event organiser said this year’s commemoration will focus on the ongoing genocide and reparation talks between the German and Namibian governments.
“At the event we will have registration points, whereby people will be registering to vote for who they want to represent them in the ongoing genocide reparation talks,” Veii said.
The Nama Genocide Technical Committee and the OvaHerero and OvaMbanderu Genocide Foundation (OGF) have repeatedly called for the inclusion of affected communities in the talks between the Namibian and German governments on the issues of genocide and reparations.
Their calls for reparation come in response to evidence of the genocide of an estimated 80 percent of OvaHerero and 50 percent of Nama people by the German colonial power between 1904 and 1908.
Muinjangue said the indigenous groups are against negotiations without the involvement of the descendants of the victims of the genocide.
The OGF believes the OvaHerero and Nama are entitled to reparations from the present German government and the estates of Emperor Wilhelm II and General Lothar von Trotha for the atrocities committed more than a hundred years ago.
Further, Veii said other activities due to take place include the parade of horses, drama, as well as traditional dance performances. She said they have invited traditional leaders from Botswana and South Africa, but for security reason she could not provide any names.
According to her, they expect a significant number of people from South Africa and Botswana, accompanied by their traditional leaders, to attend.
Veii says the day’s activities will start at around 09h30 with a parade along the main street towards the Okakarara Cultural Centre, where the main event is set to take place.