Namibia and Germany navigate colonial past toward a shared future
via The Namibian6 min read
Namibia and Germany are working to build a future relationship based on mutual interest and respect, despite a brutal colonial past. Germany's rule in Namibia from 1884 to 1915 involved dispossession, violence, and the 1904–1908 war against the Herero and Nama peoples, which resulted in mass killings and forced confinement. In 2021, Germany formally recognized these killings as genocide and committed 1.1 billion euros over 30 years for reconstruction and development projects in affected communities. However, this agreement has faced criticism within Namibia, particularly from Herero and Nama traditional leaders who were not direct signatories and argue that funding should directly benefit the affected communities rather than being channeled through the central government. They contend that restorative justice must be visible at the household and community level, addressing specific harms like land access and agricultural support. Germany maintains that these funds are not legal reparations but a gesture of responsibility. Beyond this historical context, German colonialism also left infrastructure and administrative systems that independent Namibia inherited. Today, Germany is Namibia's largest European trading partner and a significant source of development aid. Namibia, with its abundant solar and wind resources, is valuable to Germany's renewable energy goals, while its mineral deposits are critical for Germany's industrial policy. Both nations are democracies that value mu
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
The German government has allocated approximately N$1.9 million to the 'Pamwe' project, which aims to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights among young people in Namibia's Kavango, Kunene, and Omusati regions. This funding, totaling 98,465 euros, was announced in a joint statement by the German embassy and the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association Nappa, with the funding agreement signed by German ambassador to Namibia Thorsten Hutter and Nappa representatives. The project, which runs until December 31, seeks to address teenage pregnancies, enhance access to youth-friendly health services, and challenge cultural attitudes that hinder sexual and reproductive health and rights SRHR. It will target teenagers and young people, including those with disabilities, in the three regions. Hutter highlighted that teenage pregnancy is a significant barrier to equality and opportunities for young women and girls in Namibia, noting the national rate is twice the global average. Nappa executive director Natalia Ihemba stated that teenage pregnancy is often a symptom of deeper structural issues such as poverty, limited access to information, unequal gender relations, disability exclusion, and cultural barriers. Nappa plans to collaborate with schools, communities, healthcare workers, leaders, and parents to foster supportive environments for young people to access healthcare services without stigma. The project will involve training for community leaders, educators, and healthca
The Musese Green Scheme in Namibia's Kavango West region harvested approximately 4,800 tonnes of maize this season, a figure affected by excessive rainfall early in the production cycle. Winni Metzger, the scheme's private operator, noted that heavy rains at the start of the season damaged young maize plants and led to increased weed growth, which competed with the crops for nutrients. Six hundred hectares were planted with maize last October, with harvesting commencing last month. The Musese Green Scheme, established in 1977, is one of Namibia's oldest irrigation projects. In addition to maize, Metzger has diversified into animal feed and cooking oil production. The scheme includes 15 maize fields managed by the private operator and 10 plots allocated to small-scale farmers. Metzger advocates for private management as the most effective model for green schemes, believing it fosters a greater sense of ownership and commitment compared to government-employed managers.
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The Namibia Development Foundation Namdef Trust will host a two-day national conversation on responsible gambling in Windhoek from June 8 to 9. The event aims to address growing concerns over gambling addiction and its social impact in Namibia, particularly among young people facing unemployment. The discussions will bring together regulators, operators, psychologists, researchers, civil society, and affected communities to develop solution-oriented dialogues. Key objectives include initiating inclusive dialogue, strengthening prevention and early intervention, addressing workplace productivity risks, and improving access to counselling and rehabilitation services. Namdef hopes the discussions will generate policy recommendations for future planning and social protection strategies. The foundation has highlighted the prevalence of gambling in informal settings with limited consumer protection. This initiative follows public appeals from individuals like Jason Kauhondamwa, who sought stronger intervention measures and publicly requested to be banned from gambling premises due to his addiction. The Namibia Gaming and Entertainment Control Board acknowledged delays in processing self-exclusion requests, attributing them to the slow development of an interactive register for licensed establishments. Namdef's safe gambling programme will operate as an independent non-profit social safeguard, supporting responsible gambling obligations without assuming a regulatory or enforcement r