MPs go AWOL on third day of session

YESTERDAY’S session of the National Assembly had to be called off because too few MPs turned up for duty.

It was the third day of business in the NA after a two-month winter break. Deputy Speaker Doreen Sioka sent those present home just after 15h00.A quorum is when 37 of the 72 voting MPs are present in the House. In June this year two sessions had to be cancelled within two weeks because of a lack of quorum.Yesterday only 33 voting Members, excluding the Deputy Speaker, were present.They were: Jurie Viljoen, Arnold Tjihuiko, Alfred Chilinda, McHenry Venaani, Elma Dienda and Tsudao Gurirab of the opposition, Nicky Nashandi, Dr Korbinian Amutenya, Hansina Christiaan, Tommy Nambahu, Juliet Kavetuna, Loide Kasingo, Peya Mushelenga,Moses Amweelo,Clara Bohitile, Deputy Youth and Sport Minister Pohamba Shifeta,Trade and Industry Minister Hage Geingob, Deputy Foreign Minster Lempy Lucas, Prime Minister Nahas Angula, Health Minister Richard Kamwi, Education Minister John Mutorwa, Deputy Labour Minister Petrus Ilonga, Youth and Sport Minister Willem Konjore, Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Marlene Mungunda, Labour Minster Alfeus Naruseb, Labour Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Deputy Justice Minster Utoni Nujoma, Mining and Energy Minister Erkki Nghimtina, Veterans Minster Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, Foreign Affairs Minister Marco Hausiku, Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Information Minister Joel Kaapanda and Deputy Mining and Energy Minister Bernard Esau.The two non-voting MPs present were Deputy Education Minister Becky Ndjoze-Ojo and Defence Minister Charles Namoloh.