Parliament to go virtual for budget
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
The speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Peter Katjavivi, has confirmed that parliament will convene on 19 May to discuss the national budget.
The Chief Whips Forum recently agreed that parliament would convene on 21 April, with 49 members allowed to gather in the chamber and the remainder to tune in virtually.
Katjavivi said yesterday that a postponement was necessary to make the necessary logistical arrangements for a parliamentary debate via video conference.
“We have never budgeted for these things; we need to liaise with the finance minister and also with the health ministry in order to make sure we are in compliance with the lockdown regulations,” he said.
National Assembly spokesperson David Nahogandja confirmed that three quotations for the provision of information technology solutions had been received, some amounting to close to N$600 000. “A decision on the way forward will be taken from 5 May to determine what would be the best possible platform to adopt for the law-making process,” he said.
LPM chips in
Meanwhile, Landless People's Movement (LPM) chief whip, Henny Seibeb, has accused Katjavivi of double standards.
According to him, Katjavivi had snubbed a meeting with the chief whips who agreed that parliament should resume on 21 April and not 19 May.
“Ironically, on 19 April 2020, he appeared at the National Assembly celebrating a so-called 60th anniversary of Swapo with his comrades. It is not so good that while he claims not to have time to meet chief whips of different political parties, he makes time for his party's celebrations, amid the Covid-19 lockdown, breaking the very regulations of the state of emergency in place,” said Seibeb.
He said Katjavivi failed to officially communicate the change of date to them, which in his view is “a sure sign of rising tendencies of an authoritarian leadership”. Katjavivi denied this, saying he had communicated the date change through Swapo chief whip Hamunyera Hambyuka and added that the Swapo anniversary has nothing to do with his work as speaker.
“Listen, I do not want to get involved in that kind of talk. The Swapo anniversary was a small event and should not be confused with the work of parliament,” he said.
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WINDHOEK
The speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Peter Katjavivi, has confirmed that parliament will convene on 19 May to discuss the national budget.
The Chief Whips Forum recently agreed that parliament would convene on 21 April, with 49 members allowed to gather in the chamber and the remainder to tune in virtually.
Katjavivi said yesterday that a postponement was necessary to make the necessary logistical arrangements for a parliamentary debate via video conference.
“We have never budgeted for these things; we need to liaise with the finance minister and also with the health ministry in order to make sure we are in compliance with the lockdown regulations,” he said.
National Assembly spokesperson David Nahogandja confirmed that three quotations for the provision of information technology solutions had been received, some amounting to close to N$600 000. “A decision on the way forward will be taken from 5 May to determine what would be the best possible platform to adopt for the law-making process,” he said.
LPM chips in
Meanwhile, Landless People's Movement (LPM) chief whip, Henny Seibeb, has accused Katjavivi of double standards.
According to him, Katjavivi had snubbed a meeting with the chief whips who agreed that parliament should resume on 21 April and not 19 May.
“Ironically, on 19 April 2020, he appeared at the National Assembly celebrating a so-called 60th anniversary of Swapo with his comrades. It is not so good that while he claims not to have time to meet chief whips of different political parties, he makes time for his party's celebrations, amid the Covid-19 lockdown, breaking the very regulations of the state of emergency in place,” said Seibeb.
He said Katjavivi failed to officially communicate the change of date to them, which in his view is “a sure sign of rising tendencies of an authoritarian leadership”. Katjavivi denied this, saying he had communicated the date change through Swapo chief whip Hamunyera Hambyuka and added that the Swapo anniversary has nothing to do with his work as speaker.
“Listen, I do not want to get involved in that kind of talk. The Swapo anniversary was a small event and should not be confused with the work of parliament,” he said.
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