Seibeb was right – Confidente

It’s irresponsible to rush 11 bills in a week

By Erasmus Shalihaxwe

LPM deputy leader, Henny Seibeb’s words that the National Assembly will have the daunting task of passing 11 bills to avoid greylisting have come to pass.

The National Assembly shocked the nation week when they frantically pushed through the 11 bills, causing concern about insufficient debate.

The bills that were pushed through are the Police Amendment bill, Prevention of Organised Crime Act bill, Criminal Procedure Act bills, Virtual Assets bill, Prevention and Combating Terrorism and Proliferation Activities Amendment bill, Extradition Amendment bill, International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Amendment bill, Companies Act Amendment bill, Close Corporation Amendment Act bill and Financial Intelligence Amendment bill.

In April, Seibeb told Confidente that some MPs were not attending national Assembly sessions, causing delays to the tabling of the bills.

Seibeb said some ministers and MPs were acting irresponsibly to avoid answering questions.

This has come to pass.

“This responsibility ultimately lies with President He Geingob, who appoints ministers. Hence, LPM holds President Geingob responsible for unnecessary convening meetings while parliament is in session.

“The prime minister, who is also guilty of habitual absenteeism, bears responsibility for failing to effectively manage ministers as the leader of government business in the National Assembly and not instructing them to attend Parliament settings.

“Last year we saw the Prime minister, Deputy Prime minister, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and even the Swapo Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa along with their campaign managers practically absent from Parliament for three months straight (September, October and November) as they were preoccupied campaigning for the Swapo congress,” said Seibeb.

This week National Council member and Rundu rural representative, Paulus Mbangu said parliament is setting a bad precedent, while UNAM lecturer John Nakuta said another fishrot could be in the making.

Mbangu said he is unsure if the delays are done deliberately or perhaps due to a lack of capacity. The emergency approach is becoming a new normal, which is a dangerous precedent, any legislation that goes through parliament needs to be scrutinised first; when the process is circumvented or rushed, there is a cause for concern and uncertainty.

“Legislation is supposed to instil public confidence and ensure that there are no unintended consequences; it is illogical to expedite bills without proper scrutiny. It is wrong to use urgency when it is done for political convenience. The legislative process should not be cannibalised to justify inappropriate intervention; it is like saying that parliament is full of idiots. Therefore, legal drafters will make laws on their behalf.”

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