Opposition members in the National Assembly have rejected the Powers and Privileges Committee report pertaining to the misconduct of NUDO MP, Vetaruhe Kandorozu, earlier this year, questioning its impartiality, procedural fairness and consistency in handling alleged misconduct by Members of Parliament.
Based on findings in the report, after being summoned by the committee, Kandorozu admitted to breaching rule 97 of the Standing Rules.
The committee further recommended that the house declare his remarks unparliamentary, also requiring an unconditional apology or retraction and the exercise of its disciplinary powers.
AR MP, Esther Haikola-Sakaria, raised concerns about the referral process, questioning why MPs had not been provided with the referral letter that initiated the investigation.
She further accused the Committee of conducting a one-sided inquiry, arguing that the report did not establish whether Swapo Party MP Dino Ballotti, to whom the alleged remarks were directed, had been invited to give his account.
"The Committee cannot simply tell this house that it conducted an inquiry, leaving us with no explanation of whether the other person directly involved was consulted. So we are entitled to know whether both sides of this incident were heard or whether the Committee only heard one member who intended to discipline and victimise."
Other opposition MPs shared similar views of the report.
"Was the complete Hansard subsequently provided? Was the full parliamentary video recording examined? Were the events leading up to the alleged misconduct properly reconstructed? The report doesn't tell us any of that," questioned Affirmative Repositioning Member of Parliament Vaino Hangula.
Independent Patriots for Change Member of Parliament Armas Amukoto argued, "We cannot accept allegations and make a disciplinary recommendation based on a statement whose sources and authenticity have not been clearly established."
"I'm not saying that any member should be above the rules. What I'm saying is that all members must be treated in the same way. If certain comments are considered and parliamentary, then the same standard must apply regardless of who makes them," maintained Independent Patriots for Change Member of Parliament Lilian Lutuhezi.
Independent Patriots for Change Member of Parliament Lilani Brinkman emphasised that "Parliament must not only demand respect from its members; it must also demonstrate fairness in the way it treats them."
"Weaponising the committee privilege by using for silence members or putting fear in people's minds who are elected members by Namibians. "That cannot be related to our time," warned Affirmative Repositioning Member of Parliament Fredrick Shitana.
Landless People's Movement Leader Bernadus Swartbooi stressed, "But we don't know who the complainant is. Is this a member of the committee? Is it Hon. Baloti? Who is this person? So that we can be clear that a person that should have accused him or herself should not be part of prosecuting, reporting, prosecuting and deciding what the outcome of the matter would be."