‘Son of Koevoet’ brings NA to brief standstill

An accusation by Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) leader Longinus Iipumbu that Swapo parliamentarian Elder Filipe had used the expression “son of Koevoet” forced the National Assembly to suspend proceedings for nearly 27 minutes on Wednesday.The remark was made when AR leader Job Amupanda had just sat down after he had tried to raise a point.Iipumbu demanded that Filipe withdraw the alleged remark as MPs shouted across the floor during the period allocated for notices of motions.The parliamentary recording does not clearly capture the original remark or identify the person it may have been directed at. It also does not conclusively establish that Filipe used the expression.Iipumbu told Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila that members had heard Filipe's remark.“I personally have respect for honourable Filipe, and I know he would not want to be one of those who are creating [disorder]. We all heard what he said. He said ‘a son of Koevoet’, so he should just withdraw,” Iipumbu said.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila tried to establish whether Filipe had made the comment, as members continued shouting over one another.“Did you say what you are said to have said?” she asked.As the disorder continued, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila announced that the parliamentary recording would be examined.“We will check the record, and we will continue,” she said before suspending proceedings.Filipe withdraws disputed expressionWhen proceedings resumed, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila did not announce whether the review had confirmed that Filipe used the expression.She instead referred to it as an expression he was “said to have made” and repeated her earlier request that it be withdrawn.“When we went on break, Honourable Filipe was on the floor, and I had requested that he withdraw the expression he is said to have made,” the Speaker said.Filipe complied with the ruling without confirming that he had made the remark."I withdraw,” he said.“Very good. You may now proceed,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila responded.Filipe’s withdrawal ended the confrontation, but the parliamentary exchange left unresolved whether he had used the expression and, if so, at whom it was directed.The expression carries particular historical weight in Namibia because Koevoet was a counter-insurgency police unit deployed by South Africa during the liberation struggle and associated with serious human rights abuses.The confrontation came shortly after PDM leader McHenry Venaani urged MPs to preserve parliament’s dignity and avoid reducing the National Assembly to a “shouting club”.“This thing of shouting back and forth, reducing this House to a shouting club, is not the intention of parliament,” Venaani said.“Let’s behave. Let’s disagree, but don’t be disagreeable.”

‘Son of Koevoet’ brings NA to brief standstill

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-11

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‘Son of Koevoet’ brings NA to brief standstill

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-11

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