MPs go AWOL, NA adjourns

PROCEEDINGS in the National Assembly came to a standstill after the tea break on Friday, when a special session was held to discuss additional budget allocations for individual ministries.

There were not enough voting Members in the Chamber, as some had disappeared during the mid-morning tea break. The bell was rung, but to no avail.Deputy Speaker Doreen Sioka gave instructions that the doors be closed and a roll call was held.Only 35 voting members and three non-voting members were present at approximately 11h00, not sufficient for a quorum, which requires 37 voting members.Parliament was then adjourned to today.There are 72 elected MPs with voting rights in the National Assembly and six additional Members, who are appointed by the Head of State.They have no voting rights.Before the tea break, several ministers tabled their additional financial requirements as scheduled.Most ministries say they require more money because of salary increases for civil servants.While the Office of the President and some ministries only require about N$500 000 for this purpose, the Police requested N$53,2 million, of which approximately N$21 million is needed to improve the salaries of Police members.An amount of N$24,8 is required for fuel, food for trial-awaiting prisoners in holding cells, water and electricity bills, civil claims, travel expenses and carrying out investigations.Some N$5,7 million will go to improved accommodation and communications for Police officers stationed at border posts.Home Affairs Minster Rosalia Nghidinwa requested only N$686 000 for salary increases.At the same time, she reported that her ministry had collected N$15,2 million between April and September year for issuing passports, visas and work and residence permits.Of this, N$7,83 million was collected from processing passports and N$7 million from visas and permits.The Electoral Commission was granted N$994 000 for conducting an election to be held at Nkurenkuru.The bell was rung, but to no avail.Deputy Speaker Doreen Sioka gave instructions that the doors be closed and a roll call was held.Only 35 voting members and three non-voting members were present at approximately 11h00, not sufficient for a quorum, which requires 37 voting members.Parliament was then adjourned to today.There are 72 elected MPs with voting rights in the National Assembly and six additional Members, who are appointed by the Head of State.They have no voting rights.Before the tea break, several ministers tabled their additional financial requirements as scheduled.Most ministries say they require more money because of salary increases for civil servants.While the Office of the President and some ministries only require about N$500 000 for this purpose, the Police requested N$53,2 million, of which approximately N$21 million is needed to improve the salaries of Police members.An amount of N$24,8 is required for fuel, food for trial-awaiting prisoners in holding cells, water and electricity bills, civil claims, travel expenses and carrying out investigations.Some N$5,7 million will go to improved accommodation and communications for Police officers stationed at border posts.Home Affairs Minster Rosalia Nghidinwa requested only N$686 000 for salary increases.At the same time, she reported that her ministry had collected N$15,2 million between April and September year for issuing passports, visas and work and residence permits.Of this, N$7,83 million was collected from processing passports and N$7 million from visas and permits.The Electoral Commission was granted N$994 000 for conducting an election to be held at Nkurenkuru.