Gauteng Provincial MPs to tour Namibia

A GROUP of 10 members of the Gauteng Provincial Parliament are scheduled to arrive in Namibia today for a five-day visit under the umbrella of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Although the stated purpose of the trip is to exchange ideas on parliamentary practice and procedures with Namibian parliamentarians, the programme reads more like a business and tourism reconnaissance trip. According to the itinerary issued by the National Council, the 10 MPs and five staff members of the CPA Gauteng branch will touch down at Walvis Bay today to visit NamPort and the Etale Fishing company.On Tuesday, the group will visit the Swakopmund Aquarium and the Roessing Uranium Mine, before travelling by road to Windhoek.On Wednesday, the delegates will meet Namibian parliamentarians from both the National Assembly and the National Council until lunchtime.The South Africans will then visit the Ministry of Trade and Industry for discussions and will then hold talks with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).On Thursday, they will visit Meatco, Namibia Breweries and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.That evening they will be treated to dinner at Okapuka Lodge outside Windhoek.Only on Friday will the delegation return to the Parliament Buildings, this time to pay courtesy calls on National Assembly Speaker Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab and Asser Kapere, Chairman of the National Council, who will treat them to lunch.After a press briefing in the afternoon, the delegation will fly back to South Africa.It could not be established whether the trip is being paid for by the Gauteng provincial government or the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.According to the itinerary issued by the National Council, the 10 MPs and five staff members of the CPA Gauteng branch will touch down at Walvis Bay today to visit NamPort and the Etale Fishing company.On Tuesday, the group will visit the Swakopmund Aquarium and the Roessing Uranium Mine, before travelling by road to Windhoek.On Wednesday, the delegates will meet Namibian parliamentarians from both the National Assembly and the National Council until lunchtime.The South Africans will then visit the Ministry of Trade and Industry for discussions and will then hold talks with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI).On Thursday, they will visit Meatco, Namibia Breweries and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.That evening they will be treated to dinner at Okapuka Lodge outside Windhoek.Only on Friday will the delegation return to the Parliament Buildings, this time to pay courtesy calls on National Assembly Speaker Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab and Asser Kapere, Chairman of the National Council, who will treat them to lunch.After a press briefing in the afternoon, the delegation will fly back to South Africa.It could not be established whether the trip is being paid for by the Gauteng provincial government or the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.