Parliament opening today

THE opening of Parliament will take place with the usual pomp and ceremony at midday today.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who has just returned from a state visit to Brazil and Cuba, is expected to attend.The Head of State will deliver a keynote address to mark the occasion, but his annual State of the Nation address will only come later in the year. The theme for this year’s parliament opening, which is attended by MPs of both Houses, the judiciary and diplomats, is ‘Enhancing public participation in the legislative process’.Gardeners and technicians have been hard at work since last week to trim hedges and lawns in front of the stately colonial building housing Parliament, affectionately known as ‘Tintenpalast’ (ink palace). Chipped corners of the slasto paving were repaired with plaster and spots along the walls to the entrance freshly painted.Some of the bills to be tabled in the National Assembly this session are the Correctional Services Bill, the long-awaited telecommunications bill and one on tobacco products control, which is expected to ban smoking in public places in Namibia.Other legislative drafts expected to reach the National Assembly are the (anti) Terrorism Bill, the Industrial Property Bill and the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Bill.Amendments to the existing Magistrates’ Courts Act and the Magistrates Act are also being finalised and the Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Bill. During 2008, MPs sat for 79 days and passed eight bills, while two were reconsidered. A total of 32 motions were tabled and debated, often taking up valuable time that could have been used for debating bills. Of the 32 motions tabled, mainly by opposition members, only four were adopted, while 19 lapsed and five were referred to Parliamentary standing committees for further scrutiny. Opposition MPs brought 103 questions to the House for Cabinet Ministers to answer.Four sittings had to be cancelled last year as there were too few members present to form a quorum. Since 2009 is an election year, it is expected that debates might get quite intense and heated, especially when it gets closer to the elections.The streets near Parliament and the Christuskirche will be closed today from mid-morning until after the ceremony. brigitte@namibian.com.na