The National Assembly has adopted a motion addressing the inclusion of Namibian former mine workers in southern Africa for compensation.
The motion was moved by Swapo Party MP Sebastiaan Karupu, who urged the house to directly adopt the motion to avoid referrals to the standing committee, citing potential delays and resource constraints.
The report on the outreach programme to the Ohangwena Region, led by Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo, which highlighted challenges faced by citizens, including drought, hunger, and limited access to essential services, was adopted after deliberations in the National Assembly.
The report covered diverse topics, including challenges faced by children walking long distances to school, issues with water pressure in agricultural areas, and the necessity for the Development Fund Bill.
The need to make paternity leave part of the legal framework has received support from some Members of Parliament in the National Assembly, as has the extension of maternity leave.
The motion to extend maternity leave and introduce paternity leave was earlier tabled by the Popular Democratic Movement's (PDM) Winnie Moongo.
Landless People's Movement (LPM) Leader Bernadus Swartbooi and PDM's Maximalliant Katjimune also made their contributions to the discussion.
Swanu Leader Dr. Tangeni Iijambo has introduced a motion for debate on the Policy of National Reconciliation in the National Assembly.
Dr. Iijambo is of the opinion that the difficulties the country is facing in terms of socio-economic development, stability, and injustice are due to the trauma of apartheid and war that the country and its people endured.
"In Namibia, building a social order is often the well-touted peace and stability mantra of the ruling party, which is employed as a means to avoid confronting difficulties issued by our common and violent past."
The National Assembly Speaker, Professor Peter Katjavivi, has emphasised that accurate information obtained through the ongoing census exercise will be vital for lawmakers when passing legislation.
Professor Katjavivi pointed out that the data collected will enable parliamentarians to pass laws that reflect the needs and aspirations of the Namibian people.
The Speaker was counted by census workers who came to his home.
A quick Google search of the Namibian population shows varying figures.
Tensions ran high in the National Assembly on Wednesday as the Deputy Minister of Education, Faustina Caley, raised objections to the tabling of a private member's bill proposing to regulate the provision of free sanitary materials to schoolgirls.
The bill was proposed by PDM Leader McHenry Venaani.
A commotion began after Caley's objection was raised, as several parliament members echoed their dissent throughout the chamber.
With Parliament scheduled to reconsider the Marriages Bill this week, some members of the public and concerned groups gathered at the parliament building to witness the discussion of the Definition of Spouse Private Members’ Bill.
The private bill was presented by Swapo MP Jerry Ekandjo in the National Assembly during the 7th session.
Stop Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage, Chairperson' Pendapala Nakathingo, emphasised the "national interest and the profound impact" of the bill on the current and future generations.
The Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, has tabled a motion in the National Assembly for the official recognition of Namibian Sign Language as one of the national languages of Namibia.
She also proposed the appointment of sign language interpreters for live parliamentary debates.
Manombe-Ncube's motion is aligned with Namibia's constitution and international commitments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Opposition parties that dragged the Speaker of the National Assembly and President Hage Geingob to Court in 2021 over the appointment of the ACC Director General and his deputy will have to pay over N$500,000 in legal costs.
Seven opposition parties out of a total of ten challenged the constitutionality of the proclamation issued by President Geingob, which called for a special session of the National Assembly, resulting in the endorsement of Paulus Noa and his deputy Erna van der Merwe for another five years.
There was overwhelming support for the two Private Member Bills currently under review in the National Council, albeit with heated debate.
The Bills which also received unanimous support from the National Assembly, introduced by Swapo MP Jerry Ekandjo in his private capacity, surround the definition of spouse and marriage.
