Parliamentary Chaos Unveils Intra-Party Rift Over Same-Sex Marriage Recognition
The hallowed halls of the parliamentary chamber were consumed by pandemonium as confrontation erupted when Sophia Shaningwa, the Swapo Party Secretary General and parliamentarian, directed a scathing rebuke at her fellow party member and Minister of Home Affairs, Safety, and Security, Dr. Albert Kawana, over the recognition of same-sex marriages.
Shaningwa's impassioned outburst was triggered by a recent media statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety, and Security, which declared the ministry's compliance with a Supreme Court ruling regarding the recognition of same-sex marriages involving Namibian citizens and foreigners.
The ruling stipulated that such marriages, duly solemnised in foreign jurisdictions, should be acknowledged solely for immigration purposes within Namibia's borders.
However, the real bone of contention lies within the corridors of Swapo's decision-making apparatus, the Central Committee.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Swapo Party Central Committee reached a resolution to table a motion aimed at amending the Immigration Control Act.
The proposed amendment seeks to introduce an explicit definition of the term "spouse," which would supersede the prevailing common law principle known as lex loci celebrationis matrimonium.
It is believed that this amendment, if successfully enacted, would effectively render the Supreme Court's judgement redundant.
Shaningwa, acting as the voice of dissent, vociferously questioned her colleague's delay in presenting the motion to parliament as per the directives issued by the Swapo Party Central Committee.
Instead, the minister opted to issue a statement expressing compliance with the court order, thereby exacerbating the already simmering tension within the party.
Shaningwa's intervention, however, received a lukewarm response from members of the opposition parties.
Critics contend that she was employing the parliamentary platform to settle intra-party political scores, undermining the institution's integrity in the process.
Leader of the official opposition McHenry Venaani's dispassionate response highlighted the scepticism, particularly suggesting that the ruling party's interests appear to overshadow substantive policy debates.
The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Daniel Kashikola, however, indicated that the proposed amendments are being scrutinised by the Attorney General before they can be brought to parliament.