PDM ‘original 6’ face N$600k legal bill
It is unclear whether all six Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) members who were recently sworn in to the National Assembly will be liable to pay an over N$600 000 legal bill.
This after the Supreme Court last month declared that Esmeralda Esme !Aebes, Johannes Martin, Kazeongere Zeripi Tjeundo, Godfrey Kupuzo Mwilima, Timotheus Sydney Shihumbu and Pieter Mostert should leave the National Assembly because they were there unlawfully. They were replaced by Charmaine Tjirare, Reggie Diergaardt, Mike Venaani (father of PDM leader McHenry Venaani), Hidipo Hamata, Yvette Araes and Maximilliant Katjimune.
Namibian Sun has it on good authority that despite all six members having benefitted from the court ruling, the legal invoice was only forwarded to the two applicants of the case, Hamata and Tjirare.
They were charged over N$600 000 for the services of lawyer Norman Tjombe for the court case which commenced in February 2020.
Tjombe provided his services without demanding payment from the onset, and only billed his clients after the case was completed.
Only fair
It is on this basis some are arguing that the four other newly sworn-in parliamentarians should contribute equally towards the legal costs because the victory benefitted them all.
The sources argued that Hamata and Tjirare did not have it easy as they risked being expelled from the party for pursuing the case.
“It will be only fair if they all share the legal bill equally because they all benefitted. Imagine using their salaries to better their lives while those who fought for them are in debt and have to pay the legal costs alone,” an insider argued.
We’ll discuss it
Diergaardt told Namibian Sun that the bill would be discussed once it’s presented.
“No further comments,” he added.
When questioned about not joining the applicants on the case, Katjimune said he would reserve comment while Araes indicated that despite her name not appearing on court documents as an applicant, she provided Hamata and Tjirare with some kind of support.
Attempts to get comment from Mike Venaani proved futile.
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This after the Supreme Court last month declared that Esmeralda Esme !Aebes, Johannes Martin, Kazeongere Zeripi Tjeundo, Godfrey Kupuzo Mwilima, Timotheus Sydney Shihumbu and Pieter Mostert should leave the National Assembly because they were there unlawfully. They were replaced by Charmaine Tjirare, Reggie Diergaardt, Mike Venaani (father of PDM leader McHenry Venaani), Hidipo Hamata, Yvette Araes and Maximilliant Katjimune.
Namibian Sun has it on good authority that despite all six members having benefitted from the court ruling, the legal invoice was only forwarded to the two applicants of the case, Hamata and Tjirare.
They were charged over N$600 000 for the services of lawyer Norman Tjombe for the court case which commenced in February 2020.
Tjombe provided his services without demanding payment from the onset, and only billed his clients after the case was completed.
Only fair
It is on this basis some are arguing that the four other newly sworn-in parliamentarians should contribute equally towards the legal costs because the victory benefitted them all.
The sources argued that Hamata and Tjirare did not have it easy as they risked being expelled from the party for pursuing the case.
“It will be only fair if they all share the legal bill equally because they all benefitted. Imagine using their salaries to better their lives while those who fought for them are in debt and have to pay the legal costs alone,” an insider argued.
We’ll discuss it
Diergaardt told Namibian Sun that the bill would be discussed once it’s presented.
“No further comments,” he added.
When questioned about not joining the applicants on the case, Katjimune said he would reserve comment while Araes indicated that despite her name not appearing on court documents as an applicant, she provided Hamata and Tjirare with some kind of support.
Attempts to get comment from Mike Venaani proved futile.
[email protected]
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