AR renews call for removal of Von François statue

THE Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement says it will continue with its call to the Windhoek City Council to remove the statue of former German colonial officer Curt von François.

The statue remains in front of the municipal buildings at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Sam Nujoma Drive decades after the end of colonialism.

It was unveiled in October 1965 during the 75-year anniversary celebration of the founding of Windhoek under German colonial rule.

AR spokesperson Simon Amunime yesterday said the statue serves no purpose and the Namibian leadership has for more than 30 years been embracing a colonial legacy and glorifying a German soldier who conquered black people.

He said the statue symbolises a colonial conquest and it is for that reason that the AR’s leader and Windhoek mayor Job Amupanda refuses to wear the mayoral chain.

The chain symbolises the continuity of colonial projects in Windhoek, he said.

“We have heroes and heroines who have done a lot in terms of contributing to the upliftment and the building of the capital city. We cannot have someone who is guilty of atrocities against Namibia,” he said.

Amunime said the movement would involve the public in deciding which Namibian icon the statue should be replaced with.

“Some say we should put Anna Mungunda, Samuel Mahereo, Hendrik Witbooi or whatever person, apart from a German soldier who participated in the killing of our Herero people. We are not erasing history. The statue will be removed and taken to a museum for those who want to study history.”

Amunime said the movement has given clear instructions to their representatives in the city council that the statue must fall this year.

He said a petition was submitted to the city during previous councillors’ terms.

“The process is ongoing. It’s just a matter of taking action and making sure it falls completely,” he said.

Amupanda was not reachable for comment yesterday.