The Vice Chairperson of the Nama Traditional Leaders Association and Gaob Dawid Hanse of the !Khara Khoe said the Nama communities affected by the 1904 to 1908 genocide look to the government to facilitate meaningful dialogues with the German government.
Hanse made the remarks during the annual Nama Genocide Memorial Week at Lüderitz over the weekend in commemoration of Shark Island's dark history as a concentration camp for Nama and Herero prisoners.
Gaob Hanse says the collective unity of Namibians will send a strong message to the German government and allow for a productive negotiation process on reparations.
Hanse says that the slogan "an injury to one is an injury to all" is more relevant now, urging Namibians from all walks of life to unite and let the voices of minority groups be heard.
He called on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to ensure unity, despite its diversity, which will eventually lead to shared prosperity.
"Let us stand together and talk one language; let us forgive each other and forget. This will ensure that the fight for restorative justice will be much easier, and when negotiations start, we will be able to get all that we asked for because we speak with one voice as a country."
Gaob Hanse equally called on all Namibians to pray for their leaders.
"Let us pray for our leaders so that God can open their eyes. Let us pray for our leaders so that their eyes are open for them to be compassionate about the plight of those that suffer. We are the ones that prayed for a leader, and God gave us our new president."
The Chairperson of the || Kharas Regional Council, Josef Isaack, urged the government to include all Namibians in the development agenda of the country.
"To the government of the Republic of Namibia, we believe you are capable of more. We believe you can rise above political division and lead the nation with the courage, humility, justice, and truth unity demands. The strength of a nation does not lie in ignoring its role but in facing them bravely and healing them together. There is still time to choose a different path, a path of truth and reconciliation."
A descendant, Sima Luipert, is of the opinion that Nama people need more healing than development aid.
"Don't give me a mediator. I need to speak this myself because it is part of my healing. It is a journey of healing; it is not a journey of development aid. I am not asking for favours; I am demanding and I am claiming my birthright, so take your joint declaration and do with it whatever you want to do with it."