A ruling by a full bench of the Windhoek High Court has shifted the trajectory of the legal fight over the 2021 Namibia-Germany joint declaration on the 1904-08 Ovaherero and Nama genocide. 

The court has decided not to add Germany as a respondent in the case, at least for the time being.

Traditional leaders from the communities affected by the 1904-1908 genocide urged the government to speed up the ongoing talks on genocide.

They indicated that the long delay continues to cause pain and frustration among the descendants of the victims.

 Indigenous languages are a vital tool for restoring dignity and strengthening resilience among genocide-affected communities.

 Poet and linguistics enthusiast Nesindano Namises said this during a public dialogue on Trilogy to the Future-Restoration and Resilience in Windhoek on Friday.

The Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) has rejected the government's approval for the signing of the Nama and Ovaherero genocide reparations agreement with the German government. 

Cabinet approved the signing of the Joint Declaration in mid-December last year. 

The participation of the communities and traditional leaders of the two southern regions is required for them to take ownership of issues captured in the Joint Declaration on the Genocide.

Simultaneous feedback sessions were held with the affected communities in the seven identified regions on Thursday.

The seven traditional authorities, constituting the Okandjoze Chiefs Assembly, say they will not accept a joint declaration between the Namibian and German governments regarding the reparations for the genocide. 

They also plan to boycott the upcoming joint declaration roadshow in the region. 

The Herero and Nama genocide is a moral and legal crime, and therefore, there is a need to revisit the dialogue between Namibia and Germany at the community and people-to-people levels. 

The technical committees of the Genocide, Apology, and Reparations negotiations team from both Namibia and Germany are expected to provide an updated report to the High-Level Committee.

President Nangolo Mbumba says the governments of Namibia and Germany should do all they can to ensure that the painful past of genocide is resolved.

Dr. Mbumba said this upon his return from the working visit to Germany and Spain last night (Sun).

President Nangolo Mbumba says history is very clear that what the imperial Germans did in Namibia was genocide.

He said a lot more needs to be done to tie up the remaining loose ends and ensure justice.