Sam’s your Father

A CONTROVERSIAL move to enact a law to bestow on former President Sam Nujoma the title of Founding Father of the Namibian Nation was passed by the National Assembly yesterday.

This was despite objections raised in recent weeks, both from within and outside the chamber. As the bill passed through its final stages, the Congress of Democrats’ Chief Whip, Nora Schimming-Chase, said her party objected to the bill, and called for the House to be declared divided on the issue.Since the bill was introduced by Prime Minister Nahas Angula two weeks ago, it has met scepticism from the opposition parties, who have questioned the motives behind it.Angula largely motivated the bill on historical grounds, but this affronted some opposition members, who felt that certain sections of the nation had been sidelined in Nujoma’s version of the country’s history and the role they had played in the struggle.Last week, Angula responded to objections to the law by saying that the nation needed exemplary figures and that it was fitting to acknowledge Nujoma for the role he had played in fostering nationhood, reconciliation and unity.The media have also been inundated with calls and letters from the public to express objection to the title.During the committee stage yesterday, Schimming-Chase requested that all contributions made by her party during debate be recorded in the minutes.All the opposition parties present at the time voted against the bill.These included the CoD, DTA, Nudo, RP and MAG, with a total of ten votes.No UDF members were present for the vote.Forty-seven Swapo members voted in favour of the bill.In his final remarks, Angula thanked those who supported the bill and said the decision had been made in the interest of history and posterity.The bill will now be passed on to the National Council for final approval.As the bill passed through its final stages, the Congress of Democrats’ Chief Whip, Nora Schimming-Chase, said her party objected to the bill, and called for the House to be declared divided on the issue.Since the bill was introduced by Prime Minister Nahas Angula two weeks ago, it has met scepticism from the opposition parties, who have questioned the motives behind it.Angula largely motivated the bill on historical grounds, but this affronted some opposition members, who felt that certain sections of the nation had been sidelined in Nujoma’s version of the country’s history and the role they had played in the struggle.Last week, Angula responded to objections to the law by saying that the nation needed exemplary figures and that it was fitting to acknowledge Nujoma for the role he had played in fostering nationhood, reconciliation and unity.The media have also been inundated with calls and letters from the public to express objection to the title. During the committee stage yesterday, Schimming-Chase requested that all contributions made by her party during debate be recorded in the minutes.All the opposition parties present at the time voted against the bill.These included the CoD, DTA, Nudo, RP and MAG, with a total of ten votes.No UDF members were present for the vote.Forty-seven Swapo members voted in favour of the bill.In his final remarks, Angula thanked those who supported the bill and said the decision had been made in the interest of history and posterity.The bill will now be passed on to the National Council for final approval.