Affirmative Repositioning (AR) members of parliament are calling the parliament incompetent, pledging to challenge longstanding practices and ensure greater accountability.
The members said this at a party press conference on Thursday.
AR leader Job Amupanda said the party did not come to parliament “to be made pushovers” and will not allow an “incompetent parliament”.
“We cannot be elected to the parliament and being told we cannot just be asking questions. Asking questions is our right,” he said.
Amupanda said for far too long the parliament has been run by one party, “but this will no longer be the case”.
He also cited challenges of MPs being crowded into a tiny office, while parliament clerks have big offices, a situation he deemed unacceptable.
AR member Tuhafeni Kalola shared similar sentiments, saying they are told to sit down when getting up to voice their opinions.
He said the party is working on strategies to help improve the affairs of parliament via tabling motions such as on the extension of hours.
Kalola described the undermining of the opposition by Swapo as having become an issue, but assured that this would not intimidate the AR.
Another member, Ester Haikola-Sakaria, said incompetency has been there for several years.
She said the AR will not sit idle, but will ensure it holds the parliament accountable.
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