PRIME Minister Nahas Angula yesterday rubbished reports that Cabinet had initiated an investigation into alleged plots last year to assassinate certain politicians including the Head of State.
“Cabinet is not aware of any investigation regarding such allegations. Cabinet is not aware whether such an investigation has been completed,” Angula said in the National Assembly.”Cabinet is not aware whether any person or some persons have been charged with any crime as a result of any investigation regarding above stated allegations.”He was responding to questions posed by the leader of the Congress of Democrats, Ben Ulenga.Ulenga said he believed that Cabinet had ordered an investigation into alleged assassination plots by unnamed people.Angula said to the best of his knowledge Cabinet was never notified about an alleged assassination plot against top politicians.Shortly before the change in Government last March, reports did the rounds that an assassination plot was underway against the new dispensation, including President Hifikepunye Pohamba.The then Minister of Defence, Erkki Nghimtina, told The Namibian at the time that Government was aware of the report and investigations had already started to determine the source of the reports.The result of the investigation, he said, would be made public and if the evidence was sufficient, legal action would be taken against the culprits.Once Angula had replied to Ulenga’s questions, Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab said while it was not his intention to “straight-jacket” the Prime Minister’s responses to questions put to him in the House, he had to rule that he found these particular questions to be out of line with the rules of the House.In terms of the rules of the House, a member posing a question may not refer to the names of any person or any statements of fact unless they are necessary to make the question intelligible and can be authenticated.”The right to ask questions and make statements must not be used to spread rumours or make unsubstantiated claims in the House which are not authenticated,” said Gurirab.Gurirab reminded MPs that they should not “abuse” their parliamentary privileges and ask questions that were not based on facts or which they were unable to substantiate if challenged.He said by posing the type of questions Ulenga had in a forum such as the National Assembly, it had the potential of “legitimising rumours”.”Such unsubstantiated claims can be picked up by the public and reprinted as the truth and be spread around the world,” said Gurirab.”Members have a constitutional duty to act with dignity at all times and to refrain from making serious allegations that will cause the general public to panic that their President might be in danger without any substance.”Ulenga acknowledged Gurirab’s ruling and said if the House found the questions inappropriate then it should have noted that before they were placed on the list of questions to be answered.Cabinet is not aware whether such an investigation has been completed,” Angula said in the National Assembly.”Cabinet is not aware whether any person or some persons have been charged with any crime as a result of any investigation regarding above stated allegations.”He was responding to questions posed by the leader of the Congress of Democrats, Ben Ulenga.Ulenga said he believed that Cabinet had ordered an investigation into alleged assassination plots by unnamed people.Angula said to the best of his knowledge Cabinet was never notified about an alleged assassination plot against top politicians.Shortly before the change in Government last March, reports did the rounds that an assassination plot was underway against the new dispensation, including President Hifikepunye Pohamba.The then Minister of Defence, Erkki Nghimtina, told The Namibian at the time that Government was aware of the report and investigations had already started to determine the source of the reports.The result of the investigation, he said, would be made public and if the evidence was sufficient, legal action would be taken against the culprits.Once Angula had replied to Ulenga’s questions, Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab said while it was not his intention to “straight-jacket” the Prime Minister’s responses to questions put to him in the House, he had to rule that he found these particular questions to be out of line with the rules of the House. In terms of the rules of the House, a member posing a question may not refer to the names of any person or any statements of fact unless they are necessary to make the question intelligible and can be authenticated.”The right to ask questions and make statements must not be used to spread rumours or make unsubstantiated claims in the House which are not authenticated,” said Gurirab.Gurirab reminded MPs that they should not “abuse” their parliamentary privileges and ask questions that were not based on facts or which they were unable to substantiate if challenged.He said by posing the type of questions Ulenga had in a forum such as the National Assembly, it had the potential of “legitimising rumours”.”Such unsubstantiated claims can be picked up by the public and reprinted as the truth and be spread around the world,” said Gurirab.”Members have a constitutional duty to act with dignity at all times and to refrain from making serious allegations that will cause the general public to panic that their President might be in danger without any substance.”Ulenga acknowledged Gurirab’s ruling and said if the House found the questions inappropriate then it should have noted that before they were placed on the list of questions to be answered.
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