‘Anti-gay’ bills will not deter tourists – Shifeta
Legislation 'won’t be a stumbling block’
According to the minister, Namibia's law was a definition of measures to prevent the promotion of certain acts, but cannot be compared to what other countries like Uganda are doing.
Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta does not believe that ‘anti-gay’ bills which have been passed by the National Assembly will have a major impact on tourist arrivals to Namibia.
While the bills are currently being scrutinised, they have not been gazetted into law yet.
“Nobody will be harassed, whatever you are, and it has never happened before. I think it is just to understand what the law says and the definition of that law.
“Of course it was a very radical change in definition, but I do not think it will harm our sector.”
He was referring to the bills – tabled by Swapo hard-liner Jerry Ekandjo – which sought to give the term ‘spouse’ an unambiguously heterosexual meaning in the Marriage Act, amongst other things.
“We will have to wait and see, but I do not predict any major shift in our tourists who are visiting Namibia or for that to be a stumbling block,” he said.
“It is a radical shift, a more modern definition now, but I do not think that this will prevent tourists visiting Namibia.”
Not like Uganda
He pointed out that Namibia’s law was a definition of measures to prevent the promotion of certain acts and put in place some penalties, but added that it is not similar to what other countries are doing.
He referred to Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni who recently signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, which will see perpetrators receive the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", drawing Western condemnation and risking sanctions from aid donors.
Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law takes it a step further.
It stipulates capital punishment for "serial offenders" and also decrees a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality.
Overwhelming support
The National Council last month passed Ekandjo’s private member’s bills which saw him invoking articles 81 and 4 of the Namibian Constitution to contradict a Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.
He also tabled a bill to change sections of the Marriage Act, including the definitions of the terms ‘marriage’, ‘same-sex marriage’ and ‘spouse’.
The bill further seeks to prohibit same-sex marriage, the solemnisation of same-sex marriages, and to deny the recognition thereof.
The bills were passed with minimal amendments and were overwhelmingly supported by both sides of the house.
They were tabled in parliament after home affairs ministry executive director Ettiene Maritz, said the ministry would abide by the Supreme Court judgment to recognise same-sex marriages legally concluded outside the country.
While the bills are currently being scrutinised, they have not been gazetted into law yet.
“Nobody will be harassed, whatever you are, and it has never happened before. I think it is just to understand what the law says and the definition of that law.
“Of course it was a very radical change in definition, but I do not think it will harm our sector.”
He was referring to the bills – tabled by Swapo hard-liner Jerry Ekandjo – which sought to give the term ‘spouse’ an unambiguously heterosexual meaning in the Marriage Act, amongst other things.
“We will have to wait and see, but I do not predict any major shift in our tourists who are visiting Namibia or for that to be a stumbling block,” he said.
“It is a radical shift, a more modern definition now, but I do not think that this will prevent tourists visiting Namibia.”
Not like Uganda
He pointed out that Namibia’s law was a definition of measures to prevent the promotion of certain acts and put in place some penalties, but added that it is not similar to what other countries are doing.
He referred to Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni who recently signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, which will see perpetrators receive the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", drawing Western condemnation and risking sanctions from aid donors.
Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law takes it a step further.
It stipulates capital punishment for "serial offenders" and also decrees a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality.
Overwhelming support
The National Council last month passed Ekandjo’s private member’s bills which saw him invoking articles 81 and 4 of the Namibian Constitution to contradict a Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.
He also tabled a bill to change sections of the Marriage Act, including the definitions of the terms ‘marriage’, ‘same-sex marriage’ and ‘spouse’.
The bill further seeks to prohibit same-sex marriage, the solemnisation of same-sex marriages, and to deny the recognition thereof.
The bills were passed with minimal amendments and were overwhelmingly supported by both sides of the house.
They were tabled in parliament after home affairs ministry executive director Ettiene Maritz, said the ministry would abide by the Supreme Court judgment to recognise same-sex marriages legally concluded outside the country.
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