Namibia brings down statue of German coloniser

Authorities in Namibia’s capital Windhoek on Wednesday took down and relocated a statue of a controversial German colonial officer following pressure from local activists. The monument commemorated Curt von Francois, a German army commissioner who has been credited with founding Windhoek — something local campaigners and historians dispute. The statue, which stood on a high pedestal outside municipal buildings, depicted von Francois in a military uniform with a moustache, a large hat, and holding a sword. “This moment is a recollection of dignity, our city has been white-washed,” said Hildegard Titus, an activist with the A Curt Farewell movement that pushed for the statue’s removal. — afp