The Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) Vice-Chairman has reiterated calls for the meaningful participation of the 1904–1908 Nama/Ovaherero genocide victims’ descendants in reparations talks with Germany.

Dawid Hanse made the appeal while addressing a two-day youth summit hosted by NTLA in Lüderitz. Young people from Nama communities across the country are attending the event.

The summit focuses on key issues such as access to land, education, skills development, employment opportunities, and exploring new economic prospects in the green hydrogen, oil, and gas industries.

"Today, I am appealing to the government and the President through NTLA, and on behalf of these young people present here, I am also asking you to listen to us, to reconsider our exclusion, and to listen to what we have to say so we too can present our demands."

Hanse also urged the youth to respect, uphold, and safeguard the Nama people’s heritage for future generations.

//Kharas Regional Chairperson Joseph Isaack, also addressing the summit, called on young people to play an active role in shaping their communities through participatory democracy.

"Participatory democracy is not a slogan; it is your right. It is your voice in decisions that affect your schools, your towns, and your opportunities."

Some participants shared why attending was important to them:

"It is very important for me to be here to hear about the history of my people, the Nama, and in terms of where I come from as a tribe."

"For me, it was important because it is one of a kind; it is the first for the Nama clan to get together and get the youth involved."

The Nama people, under NTLA, will commemorate Genocide Day at Shark Island, a former German colonial-era concentration camp, on Saturday.