AR demands withdrawal of ‘unlawful’ Pan-African MP designations
The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has demanded the urgent withdrawal and retraction of what it terms a “corrupt, unlawful so-called designation” of three parliamentarians to the Pan-African Parliament.
AR argues that the National Assembly never formally made these designations, rendering the appointments illegitimate.
This demand follows a social media announcement by the National Assembly stating that Phillipus Katamelo (deputy speaker), Uahekua Herunga, and Rodney Cloete are expected to attend an orientation session at the Pan-African Parliament headquarters in Midrand, Johannesburg, ahead of their swearing-in today. The orientation was scheduled for yesterday.
In a letter dated 19 July and addressed to the secretary to the National Assembly Esther Kaapanda, AR chief whip Vaino Hangula demanded that the purported designations be reversed. He also called for a public retraction and an apology to the Namibian public for what he called a misleading announcement.
“We were surprised to read on the parliament’s social media page that honourables Phillipus Katamelo, Uahekua Herunga, and Rodney Cloete are ‘newly designated members’ of the Pan-African Parliament representing Namibia,” Hangula wrote.
“We have since established that these members have dubiously left for South Africa to be ‘sworn in’ despite the fact that the National Assembly never designated them. This is not only corrupt, but also a gross misrepresentation and deception of the people of Namibia and Africa. The National Assembly, or any of its decision-making bodies, has never appointed the above-mentioned members as its representatives.”
Hangula stressed that AR, as elected representatives committed to transparency, intends to address the issue at the postponed meeting of the committee on standing rules. At that meeting, the party plans to ensure that the Pan-African Parliament Protocol – particularly Article 4 (1) and (2) – is strictly followed.
He added that AR remains resolute in its effort to prevent parliament from descending into what he called “organised corruption” or becoming “a theatre of illegalities.” Given the urgency, he demanded that the matter be resolved before 08:00 today, and that a formal response to the letter be provided by then.
Hangula also outlined a sequence of events leading to the current dispute. He explained that after new members were sworn into the National Assembly and completed their induction, efforts began to constitute the standing committees of parliament. These committees have since been fully established, but representation in international parliamentary bodies remained pending.
On 19 May 2025, Kaapanda issued an internal memorandum to the chief whips regarding the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF). The memorandum noted that parliament had received an invitation to the forum’s upcoming plenary assembly.
It also stated that in the absence of formal endorsement of new delegates by the committee on standing rules and orders, members who previously served in the 7th parliament would temporarily attend the meeting. Hangula cited this internal communication as evidence that the process of international designations was still incomplete.
He emphasised that the National Assembly had not yet finalised its representatives to various international bodies and that this responsibility lies with the committee on standing rules. He further noted that the committee never met to deliberate on the matter. A meeting was scheduled for 9 July 2025, and the agenda – signed by Kaapanda on 7 July – clearly included item 5.4: “Nomination for Members to Represent National Assembly at International Bodies.” However, this meeting was postponed until further notice.
Parliament spokesperson Sacky Kadhikwa has since confirmed receipt of AR’s letter, noting that an official response will be issued in due course. - [email protected]
AR argues that the National Assembly never formally made these designations, rendering the appointments illegitimate.
This demand follows a social media announcement by the National Assembly stating that Phillipus Katamelo (deputy speaker), Uahekua Herunga, and Rodney Cloete are expected to attend an orientation session at the Pan-African Parliament headquarters in Midrand, Johannesburg, ahead of their swearing-in today. The orientation was scheduled for yesterday.
In a letter dated 19 July and addressed to the secretary to the National Assembly Esther Kaapanda, AR chief whip Vaino Hangula demanded that the purported designations be reversed. He also called for a public retraction and an apology to the Namibian public for what he called a misleading announcement.
“We were surprised to read on the parliament’s social media page that honourables Phillipus Katamelo, Uahekua Herunga, and Rodney Cloete are ‘newly designated members’ of the Pan-African Parliament representing Namibia,” Hangula wrote.
“We have since established that these members have dubiously left for South Africa to be ‘sworn in’ despite the fact that the National Assembly never designated them. This is not only corrupt, but also a gross misrepresentation and deception of the people of Namibia and Africa. The National Assembly, or any of its decision-making bodies, has never appointed the above-mentioned members as its representatives.”
Hangula stressed that AR, as elected representatives committed to transparency, intends to address the issue at the postponed meeting of the committee on standing rules. At that meeting, the party plans to ensure that the Pan-African Parliament Protocol – particularly Article 4 (1) and (2) – is strictly followed.
He added that AR remains resolute in its effort to prevent parliament from descending into what he called “organised corruption” or becoming “a theatre of illegalities.” Given the urgency, he demanded that the matter be resolved before 08:00 today, and that a formal response to the letter be provided by then.
Hangula also outlined a sequence of events leading to the current dispute. He explained that after new members were sworn into the National Assembly and completed their induction, efforts began to constitute the standing committees of parliament. These committees have since been fully established, but representation in international parliamentary bodies remained pending.
On 19 May 2025, Kaapanda issued an internal memorandum to the chief whips regarding the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF). The memorandum noted that parliament had received an invitation to the forum’s upcoming plenary assembly.
It also stated that in the absence of formal endorsement of new delegates by the committee on standing rules and orders, members who previously served in the 7th parliament would temporarily attend the meeting. Hangula cited this internal communication as evidence that the process of international designations was still incomplete.
He emphasised that the National Assembly had not yet finalised its representatives to various international bodies and that this responsibility lies with the committee on standing rules. He further noted that the committee never met to deliberate on the matter. A meeting was scheduled for 9 July 2025, and the agenda – signed by Kaapanda on 7 July – clearly included item 5.4: “Nomination for Members to Represent National Assembly at International Bodies.” However, this meeting was postponed until further notice.
Parliament spokesperson Sacky Kadhikwa has since confirmed receipt of AR’s letter, noting that an official response will be issued in due course. - [email protected]
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