Nandiuasora “Nandi” Mazeingo (Ovaherero Genocide Foundation), Sima Luipert and Johannes Maboss Ortmann (Nama Traditional Leaders Association) as well as Felix Henn (Workshop Economics) emphasize that genuine climate reparations must go beyond symbolic apologies and should always include material justice. They use the largely unaddressed consequences of the genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama as an example of how words alone cannot create justice, but rather require concrete action.
Germany's handling of the genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama demonstrates how apologies and reparations fail. In contrast, credible apologies require full acknowledgment of the injustice, the active involvement of the victims, the acceptance of responsibility by authorized representatives, symbolic and material measures, and a guarantee that the injustice will not be repeated. A just and appropriate reparations package can only be defined and accepted by the directly affected parties, in direct consultation with them, and not by third parties.
Symbolic gestures alone are not enough. However, if they are authentic and voluntary, and embedded in a comprehensive process of taking responsibility and a willingness to make amends, they play an important role.
Because without recognition there can be no responsibility – without responsibility there can be no justice – and without justice there can be no reconciliation.
