AFTER nine very long days and nights discussing the National Budget, the National Assembly wrapped up its ten-week session on Thursday.
Parliament opened in mid-February and Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila tabled the Budget on March 15. Debates on the Budget started after Easter.The very last vote discussed on Thursday was the one for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.Members of Parliament appeared rather tired because the night before they sat until 20 minutes past midnight.The discussion was rather short and the most noteworthy point was made by Swapo backbencher Peya Mushelenga.He said he had noticed on several occasions recently that children with one living parent were registered as orphans before those who had lost both their parents.This was not right in his view, Mushelenga said.Gender Affairs and Child Welfare Minister Marlene Mungunda started responding in her usual drawn-out way, but Hans Booys, Deputy Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, told her several times to speed up her reply.”This is not my style to answer to individual questions, I was formerly a teacher, I give the broader perspective,” she tried to reason with Booys.He however hammered his gavel with authority and Mungunda caved in.The 2007 Appropriation Bill was then passed.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila thanked Members for their contributions and endurance during the long sessions.”I ask the Members of this House and the public out there to remain patient as our Ministry tries hard to improve revenue collection during this financial year and to accomplish more development projects,” the Finance Minister requested.”Please be on the lookout for instances of misuse of public funds and report them to our Ministry, the Ombudsman or the Anti-Corruption Commission,” she asked.The Bill will now be tabled in the National Council, which is to resume sessions soon.The National Assembly will resume its session on June 5.Debates on the Budget started after Easter.The very last vote discussed on Thursday was the one for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.Members of Parliament appeared rather tired because the night before they sat until 20 minutes past midnight.The discussion was rather short and the most noteworthy point was made by Swapo backbencher Peya Mushelenga.He said he had noticed on several occasions recently that children with one living parent were registered as orphans before those who had lost both their parents.This was not right in his view, Mushelenga said.Gender Affairs and Child Welfare Minister Marlene Mungunda started responding in her usual drawn-out way, but Hans Booys, Deputy Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, told her several times to speed up her reply.”This is not my style to answer to individual questions, I was formerly a teacher, I give the broader perspective,” she tried to reason with Booys.He however hammered his gavel with authority and Mungunda caved in.The 2007 Appropriation Bill was then passed.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila thanked Members for their contributions and endurance during the long sessions.”I ask the Members of this House and the public out there to remain patient as our Ministry tries hard to improve revenue collection during this financial year and to accomplish more development projects,” the Finance Minister requested.”Please be on the lookout for instances of misuse of public funds and report them to our Ministry, the Ombudsman or the Anti-Corruption Commission,” she asked.The Bill will now be tabled in the National Council, which is to resume sessions soon.The National Assembly will resume its session on June 5.
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