Government mum on new parliament petition
National Assembly officials were tight-lipped on Friday when asked if anything had been done about a petition against the construction of new parliament building, which was signed by thousands of young people.
Last month, Namibians participated in a mass protest against the construction of a new parliament, and handed over a petition to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi.
This past Saturday marked a month since the protest, and despite having been given a month to respond to the petition, government has still not responded, with the Affirmative Repositioning movement saying that “anarchy remains a last resort”.
Katjavivi referred questions about the petition to the acting secretary to the National Assembly, Findley Harker.
Harker referred Namibian Sun to the director of parliamentary committees, saying the Committee on Legal Affairs had made recommendations to the Standing Rules and Orders Committee.
The director of committees declined to reveal the recommendations, saying he is not the spokesperson.
However, a weekly newspaper reported that a parliamentary committee had expressed support for the plan to build a new parliament. The move in support of the new building is said to have come just days before the deadline of 16 July set by AR.
AR’s Dimbulukeni Nauyoma said they had not received any word from the government, and warned that AR would not allow the building of a new parliament.
“We have not received any communication from the Speaker’s office yet, but we have been informed that the petition is receiving attention at a higher level, obviously the petition also clearly indicates what is to be done if the month period passes,” he said.
“What is clear to us is to say that should the intentions continue of building that parliament, we are going to physically remove it and ensure that no parliament is built, which is still the resort that is there. Even in our discussion we say that anarchy remains the last resort, once you have exhausted all means. We followed those procedures, petition is handed in, so I mean over 3 000 people were there and they came to show government what you are doing we are not happy with. They want to continue, we will gather again to see what is to be done,” he said.
GORDON JOSEPH
Last month, Namibians participated in a mass protest against the construction of a new parliament, and handed over a petition to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi.
This past Saturday marked a month since the protest, and despite having been given a month to respond to the petition, government has still not responded, with the Affirmative Repositioning movement saying that “anarchy remains a last resort”.
Katjavivi referred questions about the petition to the acting secretary to the National Assembly, Findley Harker.
Harker referred Namibian Sun to the director of parliamentary committees, saying the Committee on Legal Affairs had made recommendations to the Standing Rules and Orders Committee.
The director of committees declined to reveal the recommendations, saying he is not the spokesperson.
However, a weekly newspaper reported that a parliamentary committee had expressed support for the plan to build a new parliament. The move in support of the new building is said to have come just days before the deadline of 16 July set by AR.
AR’s Dimbulukeni Nauyoma said they had not received any word from the government, and warned that AR would not allow the building of a new parliament.
“We have not received any communication from the Speaker’s office yet, but we have been informed that the petition is receiving attention at a higher level, obviously the petition also clearly indicates what is to be done if the month period passes,” he said.
“What is clear to us is to say that should the intentions continue of building that parliament, we are going to physically remove it and ensure that no parliament is built, which is still the resort that is there. Even in our discussion we say that anarchy remains the last resort, once you have exhausted all means. We followed those procedures, petition is handed in, so I mean over 3 000 people were there and they came to show government what you are doing we are not happy with. They want to continue, we will gather again to see what is to be done,” he said.
GORDON JOSEPH
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