Is Namibia’s Democracy Under Threat?

When, in April 2021, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) parliamentarians Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb were removed from the National Assembly at the request of then speaker Peter Katjavivi, many were surprised at the way they were manhandled.

More recently, when Affirmative Repositioning (AR) members of parliament (MPs) Job Amupanda, Tuhafeni Kalola and Vaino Hangula received the same treatment at the request of current speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, memories of the 2021 incident immediately came flooding back – but with a more serious question: Is our democracy under threat?
The removal of the three AR MPs was disappointing.

A senior politician once remarked that Swapo would rule “until Jesus returns” – a statement that shows how the system can be abused, or at least misused, by those in power.

In a democratic state, leaders must be accountable.

For instance, during her term as prime minister, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was expected to provide the nation with feedback on the 2018 national land conference resolutions.

Three years ago, she said the government was working on 35 of the 165 resolutions, yet to this day it remains unclear which ones were addressed and how.

Democracy is one of the fundamental principles on which Namibia was founded, and it must be protected and fostered – especially by those in positions of influence, such as the speaker.

It is not enough to remind citizens of their duty to vote when elections arrive.

While I am not privy to the specific standing rules of the National Assembly, my understanding is that as long as the three AR MPs posed no verbal or physical threat, they should not have been manhandled in the way they were.

No one is above the law.
If rules are broken, accountability must follow – but always within a framework that reflects democratic, fair and just processes.

We cannot allow democracy to be applied selectively, or only when it best suits those in power.
– Alvenus Dreyer

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