Barely two days after a white-dominated committee was established to plan next year’s 100th anniversary of the Herero Uprising, which started on 12 January 1904 against German colonial powers in Namibia, Paramount Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako officially launched his own preparatory committee on Wednesday. About 600 people witnessed he dignified ceremony, during which historic atrocities of German soldiers against Herero captives after the final battle at Waterberg in August 1904 were mentioned, but without hatred and hands stretched out to the German-speaking sector of the Namibian population. Even former justice minister Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, who is also Swapo secretary general, attended the proceedings as well as Himba Chief Hikumine Kapika from Epupa. No mention as made of the cruelties of Herero people who cut the tongues and ears of German farmers before the war and nailed small white children to kitchen tables, by hammering a large nail through their tongues toe the table.

Chief Riruako said the Ovaherero had still not recovered from the reality of the genocide at the hands of the Germans until today. "That is why we want to take the opportunity of the 100th anniversary of our genocide to wipe our tears and rediscover ourselves because most of us still remain scattered." Riruako said. Herero descendants lived in Diaspora in Angola, Cameroon, Botswana, Germany, and South Africa since the 1904 war. "We never had the opportunity to unite and wipe our tears," he reiterated. The commemoration next year was would make it possible "to take another by the hand and build a prosperous Namibia." He saluted the "heroic and patriotic deeds" of the Nama, Damara, Ovambo and Baster people, who contributed to Namibia’s liberation and thanked the people of Botswana who provided refuge for Herero escapees who were persecuted by German soldiers after the Battle of Hamakari. Chief Riruako said his people equally recognized "the goodwill of all peace loving Germans.