A commotion erupted in the National Assembly during discussions on the nomination of two new members of the electoral commission.
This was due to the terms of the previously serving members' terms not yet having expired, among other reasons.
IPC MP Michael Mulunga states, "This is not in line with what the Constitution says. The Constitution is very, very clear. The person is to be appointed for five years. It doesn't say the person is to be appointed for the remainder of their time. It says explicitly that the person is to be appointed for five years."
IPC MP Michael Mwashindange adds, "Point me to any law, point me to any law. The legal provisions, honourable Speaker, that authorise the appointment of a chairperson for the remainder of the time. Where are they in our laws?"
The President appointing Gerson Sindano did not sit well with PDM Leader McHenry Venaani, as he had previously served as a personal assistant to Nangolo Mbumba when he was Secretary General of the Swapo Party.
"In terms of credibility and impartiality, you cannot appoint an operator in the office of one party and expect that person to run an election. So we are on record, and I want to state it on record that he who seeks equity must come to equity with clean hands. The men that you have proposed to become the chairperson of the commission do not have clean hands in our view."
Other members argued that score sheets or reports of the selection process should have been submitted to parliament prior to discussions.
"Honourable Shifeta, if he is in his position, the record, because I hear the rumour about what the president has said." Does he have the recommendation from the president? Does he have the score sheet? "Does he have the minutes?" asks AR Leader Professor Job Amupanda.
The leader of the opposition party in Parliament, IPC and MP Immanuel Nashinge, said, "I would like to request information back for all the members that are nominated by the president so that I can think about what I'm dealing with, because I don't have anything."