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‘Mau Mau’ Hate Speech Accused Unrepentant

Home Archived ‘Mau Mau’ Hate Speech Accused Unrepentant

By Catherine Sasman WINDHOEK The case against two men accused of hate speech was again postponed until August 1 this year, pending the Prosecutor General’s decision on whether or not the men should be charged under the Prohibition and Racial Discrimination Act of 1991. Gerson Ndjavera and Methuzal (‘Malcolm X’) Matundu are charged for wielding an unsavoury placard reading: “Kill all Whites” two years ago at a march led by Herero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako demanding reparations for the 1904-1907 German-Herero war. Standing outside the Magistrate’s Court in Windhoek on Friday, the creator of the placard, Matundu, was in no less combative mood, saying that the placard was intentioned to direct his anger at white people. He called himself a “black revolutionary”, adding that a “revolution must be waged”. “We fight for the total repossession of white land,” Matundu told a gathering of media practitioners, calling for reparation or that land be restored to its rightful owners. Ndjavera was standing quietly by, but nodded in agreement when asked if he agrees with Matundu’s diatribe. The two men are apparently of the Mau Mau School of Thought which, according to Matundu, is “Namibia’s only black consciousness and socialist think tank”. Matundu criticized the government’s policy of willing-buyer willing seller policy. He added that the government’s policy of national reconciliation was “hampering economic emancipation” of the masses. He further criticized the constitution of the country under which he stands accused, charging that it was “drafted by white supremacy” with its “fundamental principles drafted in the interest of whites”. Matundu expects that the court case be dismissed, saying that the State does not have a case against him, or his co-accused. “Those who came up with the concept of hate speech,” said Matundu, “had ulterior motives”. He said Namibia’s peaceful situation is a “negative peace based on the premise of socio-economic injustice”. “Namibia is sitting on a time bomb because the land issue is still pending.”