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Friday, April 1, 2005 - Web posted at 8:17:18 GMT Some parting shots on Parliament A member of parliament for fifteen years, Former Prisons and Correctional Services Minister Andimba Toivo ya Toivo has retired as Namibia's oldest MP, aged 80. |
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The Namibian asked him about his experiences as one of the country's first and longest-serving parliamentarians. What has been your most satisfying experience as a member of parliament? My most satisfying experience, as I said in my farewell speech, were the Namibian parliamentarians. They respect democracy. They attack one another in parliament, but outside they are colleagues. What do you regard as the most important legislation passed in the House during your term? The Act that declared discrimination against anyone unlawful and the equality of males and females. Do you think there is sufficient interaction between parliament and the people it represents? Not sufficiently, but last year parliament sent some members to contact people to express their views on the Married Persons Equality Act, Community Courts Act and Domestic Violence Act. If presented with another opportunity to become an MP, would you? If not, why not? I voluntarily retired because I want to give an opportunity to the young blood, but if there is pressure for me to return, I shall do so. What are your future plans? I am a workaholic. I do not believe in resting. I go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day. I may look for a job for a retiree to keep myself busy. Work keeps me healthy. Any other comments? I go into retirement as a happy man after Namibia's Independence, after serving in Parliament for 15 years - something I set myself to achieve and sacrificed for. |
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