LPM misses PAP after parliamentary suspensions
An opposition party is fuming after its designated MP was kicked out of Parliament last month.
KENYA KAMBOWE
RUNDU
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has expressed disappointment at missing out on the animated Pan African Parliament (PAP) session in South Africa as a result of the suspensions of its members by the Parliament last month.
LPM, which was accorded one of the five seats from Namibia to the PAP, did not participate after its designated member, Karasburg East regional councillor Angeline Beukes, was ejected from the National Council early last month.
Beukes and Gertjie Witbooi from the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency were last month withdrawn from the National Council on the basis that they were nominated to the management committee of the //Karas regional council, which is not permitted by law.
The Regional Councils Act 22 of 1992 in Section 18 (4) states that a member of a regional council who is elected as member of the management committee of the regional council is not eligible for election as member of the National Council.
Beukes was supposed to accompany Swapo’s Elim Constituency Councillor Gerhard Shiimi, Hamunyera Hambyuka, Loide Kasingo and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani to the PAP.
LPM irked
Speaking to Namibian Sun this week, LPM’s deputy leader Henny Seibeb argued it was a deliberate attempt by Parliament to have the party excluded from attending the PAP sessions.
He said the party should have been accorded the chance to replace the parliamentary member who was removed to ensure the party’s representation at PAP.
“They never wrote to us nor to Bernadus Swartbooi, who is the leader of the party. It was basic, they were supposed to give an instruction to say that this person cannot go to the seating now, can’t you replace. Because we have six councillors in the National Council,” Seibeb said.
He added that LPM was robbed of their voice at the PAP, but the party has resolved to have Swartbooi represent it at the continental parliament’s next sitting scheduled for October.
When contacted for comment, chairperson of the National Council, Lucas Muha, refused to shed light on the issue, saying that the matter is being dealt with by lawyers.
[email protected]
RUNDU
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has expressed disappointment at missing out on the animated Pan African Parliament (PAP) session in South Africa as a result of the suspensions of its members by the Parliament last month.
LPM, which was accorded one of the five seats from Namibia to the PAP, did not participate after its designated member, Karasburg East regional councillor Angeline Beukes, was ejected from the National Council early last month.
Beukes and Gertjie Witbooi from the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency were last month withdrawn from the National Council on the basis that they were nominated to the management committee of the //Karas regional council, which is not permitted by law.
The Regional Councils Act 22 of 1992 in Section 18 (4) states that a member of a regional council who is elected as member of the management committee of the regional council is not eligible for election as member of the National Council.
Beukes was supposed to accompany Swapo’s Elim Constituency Councillor Gerhard Shiimi, Hamunyera Hambyuka, Loide Kasingo and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani to the PAP.
LPM irked
Speaking to Namibian Sun this week, LPM’s deputy leader Henny Seibeb argued it was a deliberate attempt by Parliament to have the party excluded from attending the PAP sessions.
He said the party should have been accorded the chance to replace the parliamentary member who was removed to ensure the party’s representation at PAP.
“They never wrote to us nor to Bernadus Swartbooi, who is the leader of the party. It was basic, they were supposed to give an instruction to say that this person cannot go to the seating now, can’t you replace. Because we have six councillors in the National Council,” Seibeb said.
He added that LPM was robbed of their voice at the PAP, but the party has resolved to have Swartbooi represent it at the continental parliament’s next sitting scheduled for October.
When contacted for comment, chairperson of the National Council, Lucas Muha, refused to shed light on the issue, saying that the matter is being dealt with by lawyers.
[email protected]
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