Staff Reporter
THE Namibian Government has condemned the actions of Sven Tritschler, Deputy Leader of Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) parliamentary faction, and his colleague, who laid a wreath at the grave of Wilhelm Eduard Richard Heldt of the German Schutztruppe at the Swakopmund cemetery.
The Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations, Ambassador Penda Naanda, explained that Tritschler visited Namibia as a member of the parliamentary delegation from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to familiarise himself with the situation in Namibia, the historic injustices committed during colonialism, and the premeditated genocide against the Herero and Nama.
“Namibia further deplores the subsequent posting of a photo of this dishonourable act by Mr Sven Tritschler on X, captioned ‘Incidentally, the narrative of the “innocent” Herero and Nama population who fell victim to “criminal” German soldiers is historically untenable.’ Such acts of rehabilitating revisionist colonial ideologies by some members of the AfD are provocative and unacceptable,” Naanda said.
He further highlighted that while the German government has yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil, this act evokes unparalleled pain and suffering for the victims and undermines all ongoing efforts towards reconciliation.
“It reveals utter ignorance and moral failure on the part of Mr Sven Tritschler and his colleague and should resolutely be condemned and denounced unreservedly,” Naanda emphasised.
