Windhoek
Chief Sam Kambazembi of the Kambazembi Royal House (KRH) has slammed the government resettlement programme, saying it does not target affected communities.
Kambazembi was speaking at the well-attended Ovaherero/Nama media conference at the UN Plaza last Wednesday.
“Everybody knows that colonialism did not force all Namibians off their ancestral land. As we know our brothers and sisters in the far north and north-east are still staying at the place where their ancestors were living more than hundred years ago,” he said.
“Yet after our independence our government is buying land that is well known to whom it belongs but yet government brings people from areas where they lived for more than 200 years, leaving the owners with their hands on their cheeks,” said Kambazembi.
“Is that correct?” he asked.
“I am sure that as we sit here we are peace-loving Namibians so do we respect and love our government because it is being administered by our brothers and sisters, but that should not deter us from telling the truth,” added Kambazembi.
Kambazembi said the Namibian government is treating as “foreigners and leftovers” the descendants of those who escaped the genocide to reach Botswana and South Africa.
“I have an example of children who returned from Botswana in 1996 who were resettled at Eiseb Block in the Omaheke Region yet our government is reluctant to give them IDs,” he added.
The KRH has jurisdiction over the traditional matters and communal land of the Ovaherero in Otjozondjupa Region. In 2013 government donated N$3.5 million towards the construction of an office complex for the KRH in Okakarara. Speaking at the same occasion, Chief Moses Kooper of the Kai //Khaun clan urged the OvaHerero an Namas to remain united to address the Germans regarding genocide and reparation.
“We should stand together as a people who have lost so many. We need to stand together not only as Nama and Hereros but as a united group,” he said.
The media briefing was attended by close to 2 000 people including former SWATF/Koevoet members that have been camping at the OvaHerero Commando since the beginning of this year.
The day started with the march from Ovaherero Commando No. 2 through Independence Avenue to the UN Plaza.