Iyambo and Mudge cross swords in NA

A MOTION by Republican Party President Henk Mudge to discuss the appointment of civil servants was thrown out of the National Assembly yesterday before debate could even get underway.

Last week, Mudge caused ructions in the House when he said since Independence appointments in the civil service had been based on nepotism, party affiliation and ethnic origin. When the matter returned to the agenda for discussion yesterday, only Swapo backbencher Peya Mushelenga addressed the issue.He did not get very far before Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo stepped in and called for support from the House to dismiss the motion.All those present, with the exception of Mudge, voted in favour of scrapping the motion.Mudge had argued that the way in which Government had handled affirmative action since Independence was “unaffordable, intolerable, embarrassing and discriminatory”.Reverse discrimination was now being exercised when it came to appointing civil servants, Mudge contended.Iyambo said Mudge’s motion and remarks were “racist”, and went against reconciliation and nation-building.”It’s easy to destroy a nation, but it’s difficult to build a nation,” said Iyambo.He suggested that opposition parties should table motions that would discuss national issues related to economic development instead.”You don’t just need a modification of your mind but a complete overhaul of your thinking,” Iyambo told Mudge.Explaining the vote of DTA MPs, McHenry Venaani said they felt that Mudge’s motion was “agitating” and that the country had to steer away from drawing lines based on ethnic origin.He said he did not feel that debating the motion would be in the public interest.MAG’s Jurie Viljoen said that although he did not entirely disagree with the motion, his party had opted to adopt a different approach to voicing its concerns about affirmative action in Namibia.He said his party had written to the Prime Minister about the matter.When the matter returned to the agenda for discussion yesterday, only Swapo backbencher Peya Mushelenga addressed the issue.He did not get very far before Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo stepped in and called for support from the House to dismiss the motion.All those present, with the exception of Mudge, voted in favour of scrapping the motion.Mudge had argued that the way in which Government had handled affirmative action since Independence was “unaffordable, intolerable, embarrassing and discriminatory”.Reverse discrimination was now being exercised when it came to appointing civil servants, Mudge contended.Iyambo said Mudge’s motion and remarks were “racist”, and went against reconciliation and nation-building.”It’s easy to destroy a nation, but it’s difficult to build a nation,” said Iyambo.He suggested that opposition parties should table motions that would discuss national issues related to economic development instead.”You don’t just need a modification of your mind but a complete overhaul of your thinking,” Iyambo told Mudge.Explaining the vote of DTA MPs, McHenry Venaani said they felt that Mudge’s motion was “agitating” and that the country had to steer away from drawing lines based on ethnic origin.He said he did not feel that debating the motion would be in the public interest.MAG’s Jurie Viljoen said that although he did not entirely disagree with the motion, his party had opted to adopt a different approach to voicing its concerns about affirmative action in Namibia.He said his party had written to the Prime Minister about the matter.