As the 28th of May, now officially, that is by government’s proclamation, genocide remembrance day (GRD), approaches, marking the fourth time running that some genocide descendants are and have been commemorating it, and the second time the Namibian government is doing so this year, any bona fide descendant cannot but reflect on happenings on this front, as well as visualise the day.

Hence my indulgence in this regard and on this occasion herewith. In this treatise i am titling the problem of the problematic. Titling it as such as a  missive and/or critique regarding the ever evolving and developing political razzmatazz over the sacred cause of the descendants of the survivors of the genocide of sections of the Namibian people. A cause that indeed should be sacred to all Namibians, hence the institution of GRD. 

I am titling these reflections, the problem of the problematic, for the lack of a better characterisation of it as well as for the inability to, as much as I may have a clear idea what the problem is and where it is and has been, being unable to exactly put a pulse on it.  Due to the nature of the problematic within the realm of human political and social endeavour of the descendants themselves, exacerbated and complicated if not altogether exploited by both the Namibian and German governments for own bilateral agenda.  

Belatedly, only on the 28th of April, does the organisational machinery seems, to have been put in motion via an internal memorandum from the office of the president, to all regional governors. For them to consider hosting commemorations, each in his/her region. Needless to say, this left little time for consultations with the relevant stakeholders, particularly the descendants. 

It thus remains to be seen to what extent the descendants shall this year play a meaningful role in these commemorations. Meaningful role in terms of the key message of the day other then being relegated to mere spectators at worse and at best to just cultural mannequins. Once again testimony to the indifferent not apathetic posturing of the government on genocide history. If not total disregard and disdain of the descendants and their leaders.

During her second State Of the Nation Address (SONA), her excellency indulged the would-be honourable house, parliament, and thereby the entire nation, particularly the descendants. Regarding the Joint Declaration (JD) finally being finalised, before the end of the year, following a bypass or stopover in parliament. 

I specifically could not but wonder and question why still reverting to it to parliament?  For what sake? Granted that the august house via a motion in 2006 birthed the would-be diplomatic shuttling between the two countries, ending in 2021 in the JD cul de sac as it has been seeming. Because more than anything the JD is, and has been nothing but a cul de sac, if altogether, and completely not a violation and disregard of the 2006 motion. A motion that, among others, envisaged engagements between the descendants, on the one hand, and the German government on the other. 

Facilitated by the Namibian government, not as a one of the two players but as a go between. To make it possible for the descendants on the one hand, and the German government, on the other, to sit around the table and discuss their common history. A common history entailing the genocide of the descendants’ ancestors. 

Most critical, it must be said loudly and clearly, that the would-be engagement between the descendants and the government of the federal republic of Germany would be specifically, about genocide, as opposed to colonial excesses, politically, militarily and otherwise. Equally critically, the said motion implored the Namibian government to be a go-between to ensure that descendants, first and foremost, gathered around the table by themselves, to map out a clear understanding amongst them, before engaging the government of Germany. 

Last but not the least, the engagement was and could not have been an end in itself. But to engender the necessary understanding between the two sides to the sad history, to ultimately establish how Germany, having recognised the genocide against the descendants’ forebears should and could atone for such. Not as a matter of morality but for what it committed. Genocide.

This month, the month of GRD, enters Parliament with a delegation to Germany. What has been coming through media reports from the said voyage, cannot but take me back to my article following Her Excellency’s SONA questioning the meaningfulness of reverting the DJ to the August house. As if such would make any difference to the government’s determined, intransigent and haughty resolve to ram the JD down the throats of the descendants, via the August house. 

What is and may have been revealing about delegation is what they seem to have discussed in Germany which is an improvement of the JD. While the descendants, clearly and loudly rejecting the JD in its entirety, the disposition of the members of parliament, or should say some members, on the matter is understandable. They simply have not been sent to parliament on this mandate. Thus, there’s not much the descendants can expect. Therein is the problem of the problematic!

*Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro is a descendant of the survivors of the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama genocide, veteran and freelance journalist, and reparations advocate and adherent of restorative justice.