Kapofi: President can still grant state funerals despite moratorium
Defence minister Frans Kapofi has clarified that the recently announced moratorium on state-funded funerals does not strip the president of the constitutional authority to confer such honours.
This comes after Cabinet resolved to suspend the awarding of official funerals from 16 June 2025 until 31 March 2026, pending a thorough review of the criteria and processes involved in bestowing national honours.
Speaking to Namibian Sun on Friday, Kapofi emphasised that the decision is procedural in nature and does not override the constitution.
“What Cabinet placed under moratorium was the manner in which the honours are typically awarded, not the president’s constitutional authority,” he said.
He added that should the need arise, the president retains the full discretion to bestow national honours, including state-funded funerals.
“It is a constitutional mandate, and should the president decide to exercise that power, it will be done accordingly,” Kapofi explained.
He further stressed that the temporary suspension does not infringe on the provisions of Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution, nor on the National Honours Act of 2012.
“There is no doubt - the suspension does not affect the constitutional provision granting the president this right,” he said.
Cabinet last week reiterated this position, affirming that the moratorium does not interfere with the president’s powers as enshrined in law.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved the formation of a review committee to evaluate the current framework governing state-funded funerals and other honours. The committee will comprise no more than seven members, with its composition and terms of reference to be proposed by the prime minister in consultation with the presidency, the defence ministry, and the attorney general. Cabinet will have the final say on the appointments.
The moratorium has drawn public attention following the death of former works and transport minister Dr Moses Amweelo on 24 June. Amweelo, 73, died in a Windhoek private hospital after a battle with cancer. His family expressed disappointment last week after learning that the late minister would not automatically receive a state-funded funeral under the new moratorium.
This comes after Cabinet resolved to suspend the awarding of official funerals from 16 June 2025 until 31 March 2026, pending a thorough review of the criteria and processes involved in bestowing national honours.
Speaking to Namibian Sun on Friday, Kapofi emphasised that the decision is procedural in nature and does not override the constitution.
“What Cabinet placed under moratorium was the manner in which the honours are typically awarded, not the president’s constitutional authority,” he said.
He added that should the need arise, the president retains the full discretion to bestow national honours, including state-funded funerals.
“It is a constitutional mandate, and should the president decide to exercise that power, it will be done accordingly,” Kapofi explained.
He further stressed that the temporary suspension does not infringe on the provisions of Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution, nor on the National Honours Act of 2012.
“There is no doubt - the suspension does not affect the constitutional provision granting the president this right,” he said.
Cabinet last week reiterated this position, affirming that the moratorium does not interfere with the president’s powers as enshrined in law.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved the formation of a review committee to evaluate the current framework governing state-funded funerals and other honours. The committee will comprise no more than seven members, with its composition and terms of reference to be proposed by the prime minister in consultation with the presidency, the defence ministry, and the attorney general. Cabinet will have the final say on the appointments.
The moratorium has drawn public attention following the death of former works and transport minister Dr Moses Amweelo on 24 June. Amweelo, 73, died in a Windhoek private hospital after a battle with cancer. His family expressed disappointment last week after learning that the late minister would not automatically receive a state-funded funeral under the new moratorium.
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