The Role of Parliament

RATEEUA KAURIMUJETHE ROLE of the Namibian parliament includes promoting the values of human dignity, equality, non-racialism, non-sexism, the supremacy of the Constitution, universal adult suffrage and a multi-party system of democratic government.

It upholds citizens’ political rights, the basic values and principles governing public administration, and oversees the implementation of constitutional imperatives.

Parliament provides legislation that prevents or prohibits discrimination, and holds members of the executive accountable, collectively and individually. It also provides multi-party parliamentary committees with oversight of all security services in a manner determined by national legislation or the standing rules and orders of parliament.

Parliament further facilitates public involvement in legislative and other processes and, in its committees, is responsible for promoting the principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations. It also ratifies international agreements which are binding on the Republic.

The Constitution (article 60) stipulates that members of parliament maintain the dignity and image of the National Assembly both when the house sits as well as in acts and activities outside the assembly. 

As a young person, it is dejecting to be subjected to watching fights and aggressive and vulgar language from our lawmakers. Is there so much disrespect for the electorate? If our lawmakers disrespect laws they put in place, should the Namibian people continue to respect members who do not respect themselves?

This kind of behaviour sets a precedent. Members of parliament need to be called to order. They are elected by the people to represent the voice of the people, yet we continually watch the opposite unfold.

When members of parliament are sworn in, they take an oath which stipulates that they shall serve the people irrespective of their political affiliation. Yet, we have a divided house where political affiliation is the dominant factor. 

One can be forgiven for wondering whether these parliamentarians are merely there to serve political agendas or to campaign rather than to work in the interest of the public. 

Schedule 3 of the Namibian Constitution sets out the oath parliamentarians take. It says they will uphold and defend the laws and the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia. We can only hope that they are reminded of this oath and may yet be guided by their conscience. 

The political culture in parliament has gotten out of hand to the point that MPs don’t even listen to each other anymore. Almost no time is spent on constructive discourse on issues affecting the lives of Namibians. Rather, parliamentary sessions appear to be dedicated to verbal boxing matches.

Parliament spends weeks debating and scrutinising the budget for no apparent reason. Further, even if the budget is faulty, it seems unlikely that the government will make changes suggested in the house. What then is the point of budget debates?

For proceedings to run smoothly, and in the interest of inclusivity, this is what needs to happen:   

• The minister of finance announces the budget projections as well as the budget votes of each department.

• Parliament must approve the budget.

• After the presentation of budget votes, each committee has hearings with the respective government department over which it exercises oversight.

• This serves to determine whether the department has fulfilled its undertakings for the previous year, and spent taxpayers’ money appropriately.

The state of the nation address is given at the annual opening of parliament, The president addresses a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament, the National Assembly and the National Council on the current political and socio-economic state of the nation. The joint sitting provides for the president to engage and answer questions on relevant issues. Yet, the president never gets to answer all questions put to him, making it another unaccountable and incomplete parliamentary event.

If the 7th parliament is unable to conduct the orders of the day constructively, how are the members of the executive going to account for what happens in their ministries?

The legislative organ needs to be called to order urgently before all respect for our lawmakers is lost.

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