THE RIGHT HON. PRIME MINISTER, DR. HAGE G. GEINGOB, PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENT ON THE ISSUE OF GENOCIDE AND REPARATIONS, AND THE RISE OF TRIBALISM

July 31, 2014

Hon. Speaker and esteemed members of the House.

Today, I would like to address the nation through you on two very important national issues: that of genocide and reparations, and the alarming rise of tribalism.

Regarding the question of genocide and reparations, I would like to cool some tempers because this issue is sensitive and emotive. As political leaders we should not use it to try and score cheap political gains just because we are campaigning for the elections.

I promised Hon. Kazenambo Kazenambo, that I would make a statement to update this August House on where we are currently on this matter. When the late Chief Kuaima Riruako was advocating for reparations, may his soul rest in peace, the way he was handling the matter at first looked like a private thing.

That is why at first, I said to him, “Chief for this issue to be embraced by all of us, let us make it a national issue by taking it to parliament.” However, the chief initially thought that he could get recourse in the USA. But I told him also that he would not get any justice from the US courts, since those courts had no locus standi, or jurisdiction over what has happened in Namibia. In the end, my view was proven to be correct.  Read more here....