LPM wants ‘useless’ Katjavivi recalled

ESTER KAMATI WINDHOEKLandless People’s Movement (LPM) chief whip Henny Seibeb yesterday said Parliament has failed the nation, adding that motions proposed by opposition parties were sidelined, rejected or not even discussed at all.Seibeb made the remarks during a parliament review press conference where he described Speaker Peter Katjivivi as “useless and lazy”.He said 33 bills ought to have been discussed and passed this year, but with the exception of the appropriation bill, they were all rejected.“From 33 possible bills, you achieved zero. If we were in power… we would have fired that Speaker. That can’t happen.”Seibeb said since the opening of Parliament in February, several bills were proposed but “never saw the light of day”, including those on domestic violence and rape.“That goes straight to the incompetence of the current Speaker of Parliament Peter Katjavivi, as the main person tasked with ensuring that we pass bills for the betterment of the citizens”. No directionSeibeb appealed to President Hage Geingob “let go” of Katjavivi, lamenting that Parliament has wasted time this year. “There’s no direction,” he said, adding that the August House has not achieved anything.“It’s such as sad case. At least we were supposed to pass half of them [the bills].” Seibeb equally took issue with the majority party chief whip, Hamunyera Hambyuka.“He was supposed to ensure that most of the bills that are proposed were passed or at least discussed. That is a direct failure.“If you say Covid-19 played a central role, you ought to have consulted all the chief whips so that we could look at mechanisms on how to deal with the motions in the Covid period. We had a very extended period of holidays,” the politician fumed. Seibeb added that the pandemic was used as an excuse for parliamentarians not to meet, adding that neighbouring South Africa - with a larger number of parliamentarians - continued their sessions despite the pandemic.“In Namibia, Katjavivi, because of his laziness, decided to let us go on 3 December. At least because of the Covid period gap, we were supposed to work until 20 December. Other professionals in Namibia, the civil servants, are working until the last day [before Christmas]. But Namibia has this lazy culture.”No feedbackNational Assembly spokesperson David Nahongandja said with pandemic, the only option was for Parliament to sit virtually, which could not take place as rules that would guide the virtual seating were not approved by the house, despite allegedly being received by all parties.No feedback had been received from MPs, he said, so the rules could not be implemented. He added that the decision to suspend Parliament was not autonomous, and that they only lost 12 days, of which three were added onto the last parliamentary session. Free salary“We have a very lazy Parliament. In fact, we can say that MPs sometimes get a free salary,” Seibeb said of members of parliament who had been on recess since June and only resumed sessions in September.He added that this reduced the time available for debates and, ultimately, passing bills.“If you call the chairperson of the National Council, he will tell you that he has nothing from the National Assembly except the appropriation bill and it is unfortunate because this is the design of an incompetent, ineffective nincompoop,” he said in reference to the Speaker.“I think his time is up,” Seibeb said.Nahongandja said the National Assembly only dealt with what was tabled, and in the last session which lapsed last week, only six items were tabled, two of which were withdrawn.“Ministers are supposed to come back and reintroduce the items if they lapse.”

LPM wants ‘useless’ Katjavivi recalled

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-11-26

Please login to leave a comment

LPM wants ‘useless’ Katjavivi recalled

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-11-26

Please login to leave a comment

Subscription Required to Access Content ×

Login

Subscription Required to Access Content