Pope and condoms captivate NA MPs

A QUESTION to Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Marlene Mungunda during the debate on her Ministry’s budget last week prompted Deputy Justice Minister Utoni Nujoma to criticise Pope Benedict XVI’s view on the use of condoms.

Tsudao Gurirab of the CoD asked Minister Mundunga about the cost of N$7,7 million just for the Namibia Children’s Home in Eros, Windhoek, which houses 110 children. ‘Are there other such orphanages and would the N$7,7 million not be better used by spreading it to all orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in the country?’ Gurirab asked on Wednesday night.At this point Deputy Justice Minster Nujoma rose and asked Gurirab out of the blue if he agreed that what the Pope said in Angola about condoms during his visit six weeks ago was different to what he said in Europe.’The Pope told the African people in Angola they should not use condoms – something he never says in Europe or the US,’ Nujoma charged.Elma Dienda of CoD, who is also a Catholic, was furious with Nujoma and wanted to set the record straight, but was denied a chance to speak on the matter by Deputy Speaker Doreen Sioka.Another staunch Catholic, Willem Konjore, who is also Youth, Sport and Culture Minister, then came to the Pope’s defence. ‘May I quote from what Pope Benedict really said in Angola,’ Konjore started, but he did not say how he managed to get a copy of the Pope’s Angola speech so quickly. ‘The scourge of HIV-AIDS cannot be overcome with public slogans only. If the people in Africa are not helped to fight HIV-AIDS, the curse of this disease will not be solved, also not with the distribution of condoms,’ Konjore quoted from the Pope’s speech. ‘I hope I could set the record straight about what the Holy Father told the African people,’ Konjore said, sending a look of disapproval in the direction of Deputy Justice Minister Nujoma as he sat down.