National Council rubberstamps anti-gay bills

The National Council has overwhelmingly agreed to amendments to the Marriage Act and the Immigration Control Act midwifed by Swapo veteran Jerry Ekandjo, which seek to - amongst other things - give ‘spouse’ an explicit heterosexual meaning.The amendments seek to define a spouse as a ‘genetically born&#039; male married to a &#039;genetically born female&#039; and vice versa.The law also criminalises advocacy and propagating same-sex marriages and provides for a N$100 000 fine or six years’ imprisonment.It reads: “Any marriage officer who purports to solemnise a marriage which he or she is not authorised under this Act to solemnise, or which to his or her knowledge is legally prohibited, and any person, not being a marriage officer, who purports to solemnise a marriage or witness, promote or propagate same-sex marriage commits an offence”.This specific provision has been described as dangerous – even by some who generally do not support same-sex marriages.The bill also seeks to change sections of the Marriage Act, including to clearly define the terms marriage and same-sex marriage.RushedEkandjo’s rushed amendments are in line with a Swapo central committee meeting which recently resolved to give the word ‘spouse’ in the Immigration Control Act a heterosexual meaning and ensure same-sex couples do not benefit from it in terms of being issued with necessary residency or work permits.In May, the Supreme Court made a significant ruling, stating that same-sex marriages conducted abroad between Namibians and individuals of other nationalities must be recognised here.To become enforceable, the bills must be signed by President Hage Geingob and then published in the Government Gazette as an Act of Parliament.For future generationsLandless People’s Movement’s (LPM) Harald Kambrude said he supports the amendments for the sake of future generations.“I cannot think of the confusion a child will have growing up in a same-sex marriage, not knowing where they come from and the anguish of the parents when they have to explain to the child where it came from,” he said in the National Council yesterday.“I would ask of the people who believe in same-sex marriages to keep it to themselves and not to bring it to [me].”According to him, same-sex marriages rob people like him of having grandchildren, and children of having a sense of belonging.He further emphasised that humans were primarily created to procreate, and not to adopt children.Predatory tendenciesSwapo chief whip in the National Council, Gerhard Shiimi, said the Namibian society will be very appreciative of the support of the National Council, adding that Ekandjo should be commended for standing firm on the matter.He also accused some gay men of predatory tendencies, citing an incident in which a boy was raped by an older man because he “could not find another man”.“I would like to remind you members that, with passing this bill, we are becoming the nurses and doctors of our nation, since some of these activities are encroaching on other marriages - which is very much disturbing.“People are being divorced because men are coming to you as a woman.”jemima@namibiansun.com

National Council rubberstamps anti-gay bills

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-11-26

Please login to leave a comment

National Council rubberstamps anti-gay bills

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-11-26

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content