Civil society starts dialogue with MPs

RELATIONS between Government and civil society gained new momentum yesterday, with a first meeting taking place between representatives of grassroots organisations and Members of Parliament.

The group of 30 representatives peppered lawmakers with questions about bread-and-butter issues. Topics covered were the dumping of newborn babies, lack of funds in regions for Government-driven initiatives and perceived party-political favouritism in job appointments.”Government has banned labour hire, but it practises labour hire, repeatedly giving only temporary employment to some officials, like at the Electoral Commission, while there are no labour inspectors seen in the Hardap Region,” was one of the criticisms the parliamentarians heard.The meeting was organised by the Namibia Institute for Democracy’s (NID) civil society programme manager, Naita Hishoono.The delegates were drawn from several regions and met the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development.Committee Chairman George Kaiyamo explained the function of the committee and stressed that MPs had no executive powers but had an oversight function and could convey the concerns of civil society to the Executive, being the Cabinet ministers.Elma Dienda of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) informed the group that she introduced a motion in Parliament last year regarding the dumping of babies and that committee members would soon hold public hearings in the regions.A delegate, who identified herself as a “concerned citizen” complained that many Namibians who did not belong to the “right party” had little chance of getting a job in Government, or getting promoted once employed.”It is always said Namibia has a skills shortage, but there are skilled Namibians and with proper degrees, who don’t get employed just because they have the wrong affiliation,” the delegate said.Jurie Viljoen of the Monitor Action Group requested concrete proof of the allegation.”I would like to raise the matter as a question in Parliament,” Viljoen said.The Committee encouraged the visitors to take matters up with their local and regional councillors, or to contact individual MPs should they find no relief.The civil society representatives witnessed the opening of Parliament on Tuesday, visited the Anti-Corruption Commission and the national Planning Commission (NPC).Two years ago, Government published its official partnership policy with civic organisations, which will later become a law with a code of good practice.An office in the NPC is tasked to co-ordinate the co-operation between Government and civil society organisations.Topics covered were the dumping of newborn babies, lack of funds in regions for Government-driven initiatives and perceived party-political favouritism in job appointments.”Government has banned labour hire, but it practises labour hire, repeatedly giving only temporary employment to some officials, like at the Electoral Commission, while there are no labour inspectors seen in the Hardap Region,” was one of the criticisms the parliamentarians heard.The meeting was organised by the Namibia Institute for Democracy’s (NID) civil society programme manager, Naita Hishoono.The delegates were drawn from several regions and met the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development.Committee Chairman George Kaiyamo explained the function of the committee and stressed that MPs had no executive powers but had an oversight function and could convey the concerns of civil society to the Executive, being the Cabinet ministers.Elma Dienda of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) informed the group that she introduced a motion in Parliament last year regarding the dumping of babies and that committee members would soon hold public hearings in the regions.A delegate, who identified herself as a “concerned citizen” complained that many Namibians who did not belong to the “right party” had little chance of getting a job in Government, or getting promoted once employed.”It is always said Namibia has a skills shortage, but there are skilled Namibians and with proper degrees, who don’t get employed just because they have the wrong affiliation,” the delegate said.Jurie Viljoen of the Monitor Action Group requested concrete proof of the allegation.”I would like to raise the matter as a question in Parliament,” Viljoen said.The Committee encouraged the visitors to take matters up with their local and regional councillors, or to contact individual MPs should they find no relief.The civil society representatives witnessed the opening of Parliament on Tuesday, visited the Anti-Corruption Commission and the national Planning Commission (NPC).Two years ago, Government published its official partnership policy with civic organisations, which will later become a law with a code of good practice.An office in the NPC is tasked to co-ordinate the co-operation between Government and civil society organisations.