By Kenaumue Tuaekoveni Moks.
On behalf of the youth of Kunene Region and the people I represent in Opuwo Town Council, I address the nation ahead of the 28th May Genocide Remembrance Day.
The 28th of May is a solemn day in our national calendar. It marks the remembrance of the Ovaherero and Nama genocide of 1904–1908, a systematic atrocity committed by German colonial forces that inflicted generational pain, loss of land, and deep social and cultural disruption on our communities.
Namibia as we know it today exists in part because of the resistance and sacrifice of the Ovaherero and Nama people against the German colonial empire.
I express my profound disappointment at the manner in which the Namibian government continues to handle this matter, including the arrangements for the upcoming Genocide Remembrance Day scheduled for 28 May 2026.
We understand that commemoration is intended to be an ongoing process, yet the approach must reflect that weight.The Ovaherero and Nama genocide is not a footnote in our history. It is a national wound that demands a response grounded in dignity, truth, and genuine consultation with the affected communities.
Healing and reconciliation require more than ceremonial recognition. Government must engage with sensitivity, transparency, and respect for the victims, their descendants, and the cultural protocols of the Ovaherero and Nama people. Any commemoration or negotiation that proceeds without this foundation risks deepening the very hurt it seeks to address.
As public representatives, we have a duty to ensure that remembrance is not reduced to political rhetoric. The state must prioritize inclusive dialogue, proper memorialization, and reparative measures that speak directly to the holistic impact of the genocide on the affected communities.
It is concerning that an event of this national significance risks being reduced to a community-level commemoration. The 28th of May is a Namibian day, not only an Ovaherero and Nama day.
It speaks to the character of our nation and how we confront our past.On 28 May 2026, let us honor the memory of our ancestors with the seriousness and respect it deserves.
I call on the Namibian government to rise to this responsibility, and on all Namibians to reflect on the meaning of this day in our shared nation-building journey.
- – Kenaumue Tuaekoveni Moks is the SWAPO Party Youth League Regional Secretary, Regional Chairperson of Kunene Regional Youth Forum, and Local Authority Councillor, Opuwo Town Council
