Speaker blocks PDM bill to recognise Baster traditional authority over procedural issues

THE speaker of the National Assembly has blocked a bill seeking the legal recognition of the Baster traditional authority.

Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani’s private member’s bill fails to meet procedural requirements.

Venaani in a notice last week asked that “leave be given to introduce a private member’s bill, the recognition of the Baster traditional authority bill – 2025, to provide for the formal recognition and empowerment of the Baster traditional authority within the legal framework of Namibia”.

The bill further seeks to establish the authority of the Baster community on matters of customary law, cultural preservation, and self-governance, and to provide for incidental matters.

Although the Baster community is recognised in Namibia, its traditional authority is not.

The community has been unsuccessful in gaining special legal status as a traditional authority due to a lack of communal land.

Calls and questions sent to the Baster traditional authority representative, Manfred Draghoender, were not answered by the time of going to print.

Speaking to The Namibian on Friday, the chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders, chief Immanuel /Gaseb, said every tribe has the right to be represented by its own traditional authority.

He said the Baster traditional authority has, however, not applied to be part of the council of traditional authorities in Namibia.

“They are not legally recognised because they never applied for recognition. I remember they applied years ago and we asked them where their traditional authority jurisdiction area is, and some of them said their jurisdiction is all over Namibia.

“So, we said this is not how it works. We told them they must give us a jurisdiction area, and until they do so, the council will not accept their application,” /Gaseb said.

He said talks of the Baster traditional authority being recognised has since then been limited to talk among themselves, with no formal application submitted to date.

/Gaseb said if such an application is made, it would be handled by the council in a meeting and forwarded to the head of state.
He said it is not his duty to approach the community to be recognised.

The Baster traditional authority should do so and clear state who its chief is.

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