On the Occasion of the Commemoration of Ombara Wilhelm Maharero and Ombara Fradrick Ndjezehuha Tjamuaha, the Secretary of the OCD-1904 Technical Committee, Ueriuka Tjikuua held the following speech:

I am honoured to address you on behalf of the OCD-1904 Technical Committee on this annual historic occasion, in remembrance of our fallen heroes, Ozombara Willie Wilhelm Maharero and Fradrick Ndjezehuha “Katjee” Tjamuaha.
Allow me to introduce myself as Ueriuka Tjikuua, omundu uomainja morutu auotjipuka.
Mba kuaterua kotjirongo Ombujatjiuru – oo Kenga rovazandu va Kavijao. Imbo mongotuondundu “Kaondeka ka Tjombo”. Ouami: Omukuenambura uoja Kamazemba, uohungu ndji maikupu omundu uaina kutja aihapuruondjo. Ouami: Omunaa kuendanda, ngu mbijanenua mova-kuahere, ovahona uozondu, ovakoto uozondovazu. Ouami: Omundu uOnderura, uozongombe zetu omapenda ndakateere omuti orupapa kongombe ja Tjamburo orupera. Ouami: Omusia ua Ueja Clemence Ndura. Ongundue ku mbinuina omaere o Tjizorondu omuzandu ua Mbetjiha.
Okuja kehungi randje omundu moutu nai:
The year 2006 will go down the history of Namibia as a year of many surprises, achievements, setbacks and distortions. In this context we witnessed the departure of our hero and one of the driving forces of Ovaherero Royal Houses, the late Ombara David Tuvahi Kambazembi, who died on 14 July 2006 in Lephalale, in the Republic of South Africa, while on official mission. This was a big loss to the OCD-1904 since he was the Chairperson of the Council, a position in which Ombara Alphons Kaihepovandu Maharero is now acting. There were other traditional councilors who departed from us in similar way.
Despite all these losses, it is grati-fying to note that the Council for the Dialogue made a head-way in approaching the Otjitiro Dialogue in a dignifying manner.
Nevertheless, there were countless resentful sentiments directed against our prominent Ozombara and their advisors while in pursuit of the Dialogue for Otjisuta. The prophets of distortion and provocation deemed it necessary to turn-down our offer for unity and collective approach towards resolving the Otjindjandja issue. They justified their position with distortions and absolute lies.
There were many developments also, ranging from the introduction of the “Special Initiative”, a German Government concept for addressing the plight of the affected communities to the tabling of a motion in our National Assembly, and of late, the tabling of
similar motion in the German Bundestag. These are positive developments which bear testimony to our just claim for reparation.
Director of ceremonies, ladies and gentlemen, allow us to seize this opportunity to commend the politicians of both houses of parliaments for debating the issues of
reparation with due respect to its sensitivities and for adopting a collective approach, the position which was also adopted at Opuuo Leadership Summit in 2005. Our special thanks goes to SWAPO Party, COD, NUDO of Namibia, DTA of Namibia, and in the same vain, to SWANU of Namibia which is not represented in the Namibian National Assembly.
We would also like to express our gratitude to CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP, the Green party and the Links party for debating the issue with a sense of maturity. However, we urge the politicians not confine the debate to parliamentary chambers and by-pass our demand for direct talks between the German Government and the representatives of the affected communities.
Today we are paying tribute to our hero, Ombara Willie Maharero, who led our people during the difficult years in Diaspora. This part of Namibian history is directly linked to the wars against German occupation of Namibia. Thus, any attempt to exclude the Otjiherero speaking communities in Diaspora from our efforts to claim Otjisuta, in what ever form and what ever definition, is a futile exercise, as we are inseparable in origin, history, culture, traditions and colonial experiences. It is therefore justifiable and befitting for the OCD-1904 Technical Committee to address the issue of the Otjitjitiro Otjindjandja on this historic occasion.
The OCD-1904 Technical Committee I am representing is a product of the All Ovaherero/Ovambanderu Joint Leadership Consultative Summit held at Opuuo, on 30 April – 02 May 2005, attended by thirty four (34) Supreme Traditional Chiefs, Chiefs, Senior Councilors and Councilors, and 1,300 participants composed of Church leaders, the Secretariat and the public, reflecting the heterogeneous character of Otjiherero speaking communities.
The objective of this Summit was to foster a broader consensus among these communities and to formulate a collective position on the structure, format and content for a structured
and meaningful dialogue on the 1904 Genocide with the relevant stakeholders.
The Summit took note of the apologies communicated to the Summit by the Hon Kuaima Riruako, MP, Supreme Traditional Chief Munjuku Nguvauva II and Headman Kapuuo of Ovitoto. In this regard, it resolved to go ahead with the Joint Consultative Summit and not to postpone it, on the basis of the seriousness of the matter, supportive substance expressed in these apologies and the logistics deployed to facilitate the Summit.
The primary resolve of the Summit was the adoption of a position that: “the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu communities will participate in a structured Dialogue with the German
Government on the issue of 1904 Genocide compensation”. This position was adopted on the basis of the following developments:
· The various communications and petitions addressed by traditional leaders and political parties deman-ding reparation from Germany for the 1904 Genocide;
·The report on the Ovaherero Genocide case in the USA Courts;
·The apology for the Genocide committed by Germany during 1904, made at Ohamakari on 14 August 2004 by Hon Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development;
· The Report of the late Supreme Traditional Chief Tuvahi David Kambazembi on the Bremen Conference, and
· The Report on the Visit of the Supreme Traditional Chief Kaihepo-vazandu Alphons Maharero to Magdeburg, Berlin and the Von Trotha family in Germany.
Director of Ceremonies, it is of cardi-nal importance to recall that the Summit resolved that the Ovaherero/Ovambanderu communities shall engage the German Government in the
dialogue as one, forming one negotiating team and adopting one common position in the best interest of all the victims of the Otjitiro.
In this context, the Summit consti-tuted the structures for the dialogue as follows:
·Ovaherero/Ovambanderu-Communities;
·Council for the Dialogue, and;
·Technical Committee.
The members nominated to serve on the Council for the Dialogue as the principle negotiators on behalf of these communities in Namibia and the Diaspora were: David Tuvahi Kambazembi (deceased); Kaihepo-vazandu Alphons Maharero; Vemu-tonda O. Mureti (In Absentia); Mun-juku Nguvauva II (In Absentia); John Kapuka Tomo; Christian Eerike Zeraeua;Uziruapi Tjavara; Silvanus Hoveka; John Tjikuua; Jesaja Mukun-gu (deceased); Edward Uapundua Mumbuu; Kuaima Riruako (In Absentia); Pavanga Kahaka (Ngami-land-Botswana); Johannes Kaumo Maharero (Mahalapye-Botswana); Richard Mbindombi Kambura (Ganzi-Botswana), and; Chief Tjikuirire (Vaalgras).
The Technical Committee was appointed from the members of the existing Royal Houses Secretariat and additional new members, and was given a clear mandate to launch a public awareness campaign, mobilize resources, formulate the Dialogue Agenda and come up with a comprehensive development programme, initiate contact to other stakeholders and make all necessary arrangements for the commencement of the Dialogue with the German Government. The mandate enabled the Technical Committee to structure itself and co-opt experts in various fields to assist the Ovaherero/Ovambanderu Council for the Dialogue.
In addition, the Summit adopted the Principle of non-par-tisan and non-discri-mination on the basis of leadership status and religious beliefs, and collective approach in addressing
the Genocide committed against all Ovaherero/Ovambandru com-munities.
I am proud to assure you that this principle has been the guidance in all the activities of the Technical Committee and its social interactions with the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu
people in Namibia and the Diapora.
Director of Ceremonies, It is important to underline that this summit was conducted in a responsible manner. The mandate which was given to the late Supreme Traditional Chief David Tuvahi Kambazembi to consult and invite the Chiefs who were absent at Opuuo Summit to join the Council for the Dialogue, bears testimony to that fact. The much talkedabout issue of Ovaherero/Ovambanderu unity was not neglected or overlooked during Opuuo deliberations. In this regard, the summit resolved to convene another Joint Summit at a later stage, to address the political, traditional and cultural matters affecting the Unity
of Ovaherero/Ovambanderu commu-nities.
In our preparation for the Dialogue, we maintain regular contact with our Namibian Government to seek a common understanding and approach in this regard. As an example, the OCD-1904 met the Head of State, His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba, on 21 November 2005 and submitted ONGUTA to him, as an exercise to promote the dialogue in the best interest of all the stake-holders.
In this context, we would like our people to note that our President, His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, in response promised to meet the demands of the affected communities. This commitment is based on his constitutional obligations as a Head of State, as he has demonstrated at the abortive signing ceremony of the “German Special Initiative” during his first state visit to Germany, late November 2005.
We have been equally in constant contact with the German Government through their respective Ambassadors and solidarity groups in Europe to promote Otjihungiriro between the German Government and the affected communities, and to seek clarification on some pertinent issues with regard to the “Special Initiative”, featuring the N$ 160 Mil to be allocated for developmental projects identified by the affected communities. Our position
adopted at the 4th Summit of Ovaherero/Ovambanderu held at Okakarara as form 16-18 February 2007, on this matter is as follows: “the special initiative initiate by the German Government can not and should not be linked to the demand for Reparation (Otjisuta) as contem-plated by Ovaherero/Ovambanderu”.
It is gratifying, however, to note that, OCD-1904 has adopted a Framework for 1904 Genocide Compensation and instructed the Technical Committee (OCD-1904 TC) to finalise this document at its Consultative Summit held at Otjinene, Omaheke Region, as from 25-26 February 2006.
The Framework for Otjisuta is a comprehensive framework which addresses our needs and interests pertinent to the healing of the wounds of Otjitiro Otjindjandja. It is a patriotic
and authentic initiative in the sense that it does not discriminate against other Namibian communities and the developmental aspirations of the Namibian nation.
The Framework for Otjisuta is addressing the following issues which were highlighted at Opuuo summit:
· Ancestral Land rights · Education
· Health and Social Services- · Culture
· Economy · Infrastructure
· Marshall plan for Eiseb, Gam and those in Diaspora
Our plea to Ovaherero and Ovam-banderu communities is to unite in this common cause, irrespective of our political or religious differences, and to engage the German Government in this dialogue as united people. In this context, we are opposed to all activities conducted in a partisan, unilateral and hegemonistic manner, aimed at furthering party political agenda and egoistic tendencies of certain elements in our communities.
Director of Ceremonies, ladies and gentlemen may we conclude our speech by stating that we have a Vision to heal the wounds of Ovaherero and Ovambanderu people, and a Mission to foster the ultimate Otjisuta for the Otjitiro Otjindjandja committed against them.