Two amendment bills tabled in NA

THE National Assembly on Wednesday adjourned debate on proposed amendments to the Insolvency Act and the Communal Land Reform Act.

Introducing the Insolvency Amendment Bill, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Uutoni Nujoma, said the bill was meant to ensure proper application and replace references to South African court names with Namibian ones. The Deputy Minister said the Insolvency Act of 1936 needed to be brought in line with the new reality of independent Namibia and its Constitution.Among other things, the amendment would make it permissible to challenge the Master of the High Court in cases where this is deemed necessary.Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo tabled the Communal Land Reform Amendment Bill seeking to replace the 2002 Act.In his motivation, Ekandjo said there was confusion about what constituted a Local Authority Area.He said the bill sought to clarify the issue by providing clear definitions.Supporting the amendment, Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said there was increasing friction about the ownership of communal land and the issue should be resolved to avert future problems.The Deputy Minister said the Insolvency Act of 1936 needed to be brought in line with the new reality of independent Namibia and its Constitution.Among other things, the amendment would make it permissible to challenge the Master of the High Court in cases where this is deemed necessary.Lands Minister Jerry Ekandjo tabled the Communal Land Reform Amendment Bill seeking to replace the 2002 Act.In his motivation, Ekandjo said there was confusion about what constituted a Local Authority Area.He said the bill sought to clarify the issue by providing clear definitions.Supporting the amendment, Swapo Secretary General Ngarikutuke Tjiriange said there was increasing friction about the ownership of communal land and the issue should be resolved to avert future problems.