Only a handful of locals turned up for the regional stakeholder consultations on the proposed commission for the Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) Bill at Nkurenkuru, Kavango West.
The attendance was described as rather disappointing.
Director of Finance and Administration for the Kavango West Regional Council, Eveline Nambahu, says, "Unfortunately, on behalf of the Governor as well as the Chairperson of the Regional Council, I should tender my disappointment that the attendance is not what we expected. The invitations went to all stakeholders in Kavango West, and most of them confirmed their attendance, but unfortunately, the majority did not turn up."
The proposed Commission for Alternative Dispute Resolution would be an independent and specialised body, dedicated to conciliation and arbitration of labour disputes.
Its creation aims to enhance efficiency in case management, reduce delays, improve consistency in decisions and expand access to justice, particularly for workers and employers who may lack the resources to pursue lengthy legal processes.
Some SADC countries have already established similar bodies, and Namibia hopes to pass the law during this financial year.
Deputy Chairperson of the Technical Working Group, Paavo Amunjela, adds, "It is not only a wish for the commission to be established outside the public service, but it's also an alignment exercise to be on par with other countries. Namibia is a country belonging to communities, and we have signed protocols and treaties, one of which is the SADC module for alternative dispute resolution systems."
Members of the public, workers, trade unions, employers, employers' organisations, civil society and all interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend and contribute meaningfully to the law-making process, all towards ensuring fair, accessible and speedy dispute resolution in Namibia.
The Technical Working Group is conducting regional stakeholder consultations in all 14 regions.
They started on the 17th of February and will conclude in Windhoek on the 18th of March.
The next consultations are taking place on the 27th of February in Eenhana and Otjiwarongo, followed by Gobabis and Omuthiya on the 3rd of March.