Male MPs rap Ithana for attacking fathers

ATTORNEY GENERAL Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana came under fire from male parliamentarians in the National Assembly on Tuesday when she lambasted Namibian fathers who neglected their children.

“Many Namibian children do not know their fathers and many fathers do not know how many children they have because the two never see each other,” she said during debate on the ratification of the African Charter on the Rights of African Women. Citing a reference to Namibian fathers as ‘Rolling Stones’, a comment made by Namibian comedian Neville Basson in his column in this newspaper last week, Iivula-Ithana opened herself up to attack from male MPs.”Just give me one example of a father who doesn’t know his child,” retorted Nahas Angula, Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation.For his part, Minister of Trade and Industry Jesaya Nyamu contended that if this was the case it was because “some fathers are denied their own children by the mothers who give them to other fathers”.He alleged that “some mothers don’t know who the fathers [of their children] are”.But Iivula-Ithana stood her ground, telling the men that “there is total confusion out there”.”Am I touching a raw nerve?,” she asked coyly, “the truth hurts.That’s why there is heat under the seat.”The Attorney General took issue with the charter’s provision for paternity leave saying that while it was a noble intention on the part of men to be involved in the birth process, the reality was that some men fathered more than one child per year.”Now, if men have to be accorded paternity leave the questions are: should this be paid leave, how many times per year or how often should it be given?” she asked.Swapo backbencher Ponhele ya France interjected saying that men should be paid during this time and that paternity leave should be granted “as often as the man makes children”.But Iivula-Ithana said that there was no guarantee men would use the leave period for the intended purpose.She was also doubtful whether the economy could afford it “given the rate at which they are becoming fathers”.The Attorney General told the House that the charter made reference to a number of issues related to eliminating forms of discrimination against women, which she felt needed to be shared with Namibians.She said this task should be give to a parliamentary standing committee before Namibia ratified the protocol.Debate was postponed until next week.Citing a reference to Namibian fathers as ‘Rolling Stones’, a comment made by Namibian comedian Neville Basson in his column in this newspaper last week, Iivula-Ithana opened herself up to attack from male MPs.”Just give me one example of a father who doesn’t know his child,” retorted Nahas Angula, Minister of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation.For his part, Minister of Trade and Industry Jesaya Nyamu contended that if this was the case it was because “some fathers are denied their own children by the mothers who give them to other fathers”.He alleged that “some mothers don’t know who the fathers [of their children] are”.But Iivula-Ithana stood her ground, telling the men that “there is total confusion out there”.”Am I touching a raw nerve?,” she asked coyly, “the truth hurts.That’s why there is heat under the seat.”The Attorney General took issue with the charter’s provision for paternity leave saying that while it was a noble intention on the part of men to be involved in the birth process, the reality was that some men fathered more than one child per year.”Now, if men have to be accorded paternity leave the questions are: should this be paid leave, how many times per year or how often should it be given?” she asked.Swapo backbencher Ponhele ya France interjected saying that men should be paid during this time and that paternity leave should be granted “as often as the man makes children”.But Iivula-Ithana said that there was no guarantee men would use the leave period for the intended purpose.She was also doubtful whether the economy could afford it “given the rate at which they are becoming fathers”.The Attorney General told the House that the charter made reference to a number of issues related to eliminating forms of discrimination against women, which she felt needed to be shared with Namibians.She said this task should be give to a parliamentary standing committee before Namibia ratified the protocol.Debate was postponed until next week.