THE lack of a quorum in the National Assembly yesterday prevented the passing of legislation which will lead to the establishment of Windhoek’s long-awaited City Police service.
The Local Authorities Amendment Bill gives the municipalities of Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay permission to establish their own crime-prevention agencies. During only one round of debate on Wednesday, MPs agreed that the bill should be passed soon as Windhoek ratepayers had already begun paying for the service a year ago.Deputy Speaker Willem Konjore and the Congress of Democrats’ Tsudao Gurirab both felt the Bill should also provide for smaller local authorities to also establish their own Police service.Minister of Home Affairs Jerry Ekandjo tried to dispel what he termed “propaganda” that Government had interfered in the process, resulting in delays.He said that an amendment to the Police Act in 1999 had paved the way for the establishment of municipal police services, but that there was no law giving local authorities permission to do so.Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, said the amendment did not extend to all local authorities because of the financial implications involved in establishing municipal police services.He reminded the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs, as the custodian of the Namibian Police, and the Inspector General of the Police, would all be involved in the new service.During only one round of debate on Wednesday, MPs agreed that the bill should be passed soon as Windhoek ratepayers had already begun paying for the service a year ago.Deputy Speaker Willem Konjore and the Congress of Democrats’ Tsudao Gurirab both felt the Bill should also provide for smaller local authorities to also establish their own Police service.Minister of Home Affairs Jerry Ekandjo tried to dispel what he termed “propaganda” that Government had interfered in the process, resulting in delays.He said that an amendment to the Police Act in 1999 had paved the way for the establishment of municipal police services, but that there was no law giving local authorities permission to do so.Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, said the amendment did not extend to all local authorities because of the financial implications involved in establishing municipal police services.He reminded the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs, as the custodian of the Namibian Police, and the Inspector General of the Police, would all be involved in the new service.
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