Ngurare: Genocide Remembrance Must Strengthen National Unity.
By Anton Wokie
Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare has emphasized the importance of Namibia’s Genocide Remembrance Day as a platform for national unity, historical reflection, justice, and nation-building, urging Namibians to preserve the memory of the atrocities committed during the 1904–1908 genocide while working together towards a shared future.
Speaking during the second national commemoration of Genocide Remembrance Day at the historic site of Ozombuzovindimba in the Otjinene Constituency on Thursday, 28 May 2026, Ngurare said the day has become a symbol of unity and inclusivity, bringing together Namibians from all regions to collectively remember one of the darkest chapters in the country’s history.
He noted that the commemoration, first launched by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in 2025, has now become part of the national calendar and serves to strengthen Namibia’s policy of national reconciliation and shared national memory.
According to Ngurare, the significance of Genocide Remembrance Day extends beyond honoring the victims of the 1904–1908 genocide. It is also about recognizing the sacrifices that laid the foundation for Namibia’s freedom.
“That is why, when we sing in our National Anthem that ‘their blood waters our freedom,’ we are not merely reciting poetic words. We are acknowledging a sacred truth: that the freedom we enjoy today was paid for through the suffering, sacrifice, and blood of those who came before us. Their pain became our purpose. Their resistance became our foundation. Their sacrifices became the freedom of the Republic of Namibia,” he said.
The Prime Minister called for increased academic research, documentation, publication, and education on the genocide to ensure future generations understand the realities of what occurred and its impact on Namibia’s development.
He stressed that the stories, testimonies, and historical records of the genocide must continue to be preserved through books, archives, museums, universities, films, and scholarly work.
Ngurare further urged Namibians to reject tribalism, division, hatred, and exclusion, arguing that the best way to honour the victims is by upholding the values of unity, peace, equality, and shared prosperity.
He said remembrance should inspire citizens to build a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Namibia while protecting the country’s sovereignty and collective identity.
The Prime Minister also linked the pursuit of historical justice to broader efforts aimed at achieving economic independence and maintaining control over Namibia’s natural resources.
He argued that true sovereignty requires Namibians to take ownership of their resources, protect workers, and determine their own development path.
Addressing the younger generation, Ngurare encouraged young Namibians to safeguard the country’s history and ensure that the memory of the genocide is never diluted, distorted, or forgotten.
He emphasized that remembrance should strengthen the nation’s commitment to human dignity, economic equity, and national unity for all Namibians.
Ngurare concluded by calling on all Namibians to carry the message of remembrance, justice, dignity, and unity across the country’s 14 regions and 121 constituencies, ensuring that the sacrifices of past generations continue to guide the nation’s future.
