Takarive is settlement in Botswana near Mahalapye. Originally this settlement was donated by the Bamangwato chieftainship for settling Chief Samuel Katjiikumbua Maharero’s people. Thus, several clans who fled Namibia with Samuel Maharero including those of Riarua,  Ombongora, Tjivasera, Toromba,  Mireti, Kaposambo and many others have settled there. It is said that many of the Genocide survivors were laid to rest at this settlement at what could be regarded as Heroes graves considering the fact that many of them were veterans of the war.  Between 30th October 2025 to 1st November 2025 this village will host an Ovaherero Cultural Festival.   Speaking on Omurari radio on the 28th October on Keetute program, Chief Tjinaani of the Maharero Royal House confirmed that he was one of the invitees. Obviously, that is in appreciation of the role played by his great grandfather Samual Maharero, it is therefore expected that the community of Takarive and the surroundings will arrange a deserving remembrance for Chief Samuel Mahareroamidst many other activities. 
The festival is inclusive in terms of the various topics including historical education, culture, socio-economic issues and so on. Similarly, the festival is understood be broad in terms of attendees from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa hosting all interested ethnicities and nationalities. These are some of the ideals and values that Samuel Maharero stood for. 
As we all now know, Samuel Maharero was a most formidable commander of the Ovaherero resistance fighters and has displayed un-paralleled gallantry during the anti-Genocide war. This is the man who had taken on the then strongest army in the world, the German Reich army. His resistance fighters defeated the German army at several battles including Ovikokorero, Oviombo, Okandjira and at many other places. 
At Hamakari he fought the Von Trotha forces to an unprecedented stalemate. Once Oberleutnant Ralph Zurn failed to assassinate Samuel Maharero at Okahandja in January 1904, he resorted to an indiscriminate killing of Ovaherero at random in order to provoke a war between Ovaherero and Germans, hence within the Ovaherero community the war is known as “Ovita via Zurn”. Samuel Maharero conducted a humane and civilised war within the confines of the rules of engagement of that time. He ordered that no German women, nor Basters, Boers, English must be harmed. On the other hand, Germans conducted an uncivilised, inhumane war that violated all rules of engagement. 
As a humanist Samuel Maharero could not have expected that the German colonial army was to visit cruelty upon the non-combatant’s civilians after his strategic retreat from Ohamakari battle.  Unfortunately, due to the inhumane and cruel nature of the German Imperial Army, after the retreat, a significant number of vulnerable Ovaherero were left behind including children, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, the exhausted etc. By extrapolation, if there were about 40,000 – 60,000   at Ohamakari then about 3000 – 5000 were these vulnerable groups. The question is what happened with these people? There is no known concentration camp that was set up at Ohamakari and why should we believe that these people were not clubbed, shot and starved to death by the German army as part of their genocidal aggression? This fact in addition to the others makes a compelling case in terms of the intent and actual commitment of the Genocide by the German Reich Government.
The multitudes of people who had gathered at Okahandja on the 26th August 1923, for the re-burial   of Samuel Katjiikumbua Maharero pledged that: Henceforth every 26th August there shall forever be a pilgrim to pay homage at Okahandja……. this shall be guided by the creed ‘’’Mukuru Punaete, Samuel Maharero” (simply saying that God is with us he has brought Samuel Maharero back to us). It is gratifying to know that the Ovaherero who have been living in the diaspora for more than 100 years have been consistent and persistent in preserving their culture and have remained devoted to honouring their leaders such as Samuel Maharero and many others. 
In an unpreceded gesture of honour to non-British leader the casket carrying the remains of Samuel Maharero was draped in the Union Jack flag. Why such an honour was bestowed in him puzzle many today. But perhaps the man who managed to fight the then strongest army in the world at Ohamakari to a stalemate and also that his conduct of war saved many British who were residing in Namibia at that time after his order not to harm the British.
The heroic deeds of the Ovaherero forebears should not be forgotten Thus, the appreciation of the people of Takarive for the Maharero leadership should be emulated by many others.

Usutuaije Maamberua Descendant of the Victims of Ovaherero/Nama Genocide;