The Nama Traditional Leaders Association Chairperson, Johannes Isaack, has stressed the need for the inclusion of the Nama people in green hydrogen development at Luderitz.
He shared his sentiments at the workshop organised by the association in collaboration with the Society for Threatened Peoples.
The workshop, themed' Indigenous Reflections on Green Hydrogen Production in Southern Namibia', was attended by representatives of traditional authorities in the south.
Its objective is to inform Nama communities and reflect on the Green Hydrogen initiative, focusing on local beneficiation.
"I stand before you not only as a representative but also as the guardian of the interests and heritage of the Nama Nation. The symposium deals with a topic of great importance. At the heart of this discussion lies a burning question that goes beyond mere technological and economic progress: the question of inclusion and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, the question of informed consent, and colonial land dispossession. For too long, the Nama Nation has seen decisions affecting our land, our heritage, and our future made without our input. The principle 'nothing about us without us' is central to every discussion that concerns our collective well-being, and yet it has not been truly taken into account in the context of current hydrogen projects."
In a message read on her behalf, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Kornelia Shilunga also emphasised the protection of the indigenous people's rights.
"From a legal standpoint, it is essential to ensure that the rights of indigenous communities are upheld and protected throughout the process of green hydrogen development. This includes respecting land rights and cultural heritage, ensuring meaning, consulting, and participating in decision-making processes."
Also speaking at the occasion was Luderitz Mayor Phillipus Balhao, who said, "The acknowledgement is considered to be the birthplace of commerce in Namibia, which is the same locality that equally holds the deep-rooted history of the past human abuses that still haunt us today. The same town, which, upon reflection, brings back memories that caused discomfort, now offers us so much hope as the people pursue an industrialised and prosperous nation."