Parliament is a core of our ability to deliver and serve the Namibian people in a manner that fulfils the mandate that voters given to them. A parliament that debates but does not pass laws is like a tree that does not bear fruits.
Democracy is not only determined by the numbers of questions being posed by members of the parliament in the national assembly or higher standard of vocabulary being used but measured by bills passed to change the status quo our people.
Recently Namibia’s 8th parliament adjourned without any single bill passed amidst important laws that are under discussion, such as land bill (that has been long overdue) and mental health bill has sparks debate among voters whether should we anticipate our members of parliament to deliver and fulfil the vows they made during elections campaigns or not.
I used to watch and follow 8th parliament sessions every day when it’s on until it goes on recess and I have picked up that our MPs are spending much of time on asking questions rather than discussion and deliberate on the laws that are on the table waiting to be passed, am not necessarily mean members of parliament must stop asking questions for clarification but I have noticed that some queries are not really important, these has consumed much time that could be used for discussion of important laws.
The inability to pass laws has significant consequences for voters who casted their votes in hoping that the 8th parliament would bring about the change and improve their living standards. Members of parliament must know that when they are sitting in that chamber we called national assembly, they are the agent and representatives of all namibian citizens irrespective of their political parties where they came from. Because if a particular law is passed and becomes a bill is subjected to all people whether that law is good or bad – every one has to abide to it.
Hence, the combination of MPs from different political parties should bring cross- pollination of fresh ideas.Let us look at land bill which is under discussion this particular bill is very important due to the fact that it sought to replace colonial law and sought to stop foreigners to buy and own land privately in our country I was expecting these important bills to be passed without delay since land has become crises in Namibia especially to stop the system of willing buy willing seller, which pushed our indigenous people to become landless in the hands of foreigners and elites.
I once again observed that when our MPs stood up and ask questions to the line ministers it appears that minister (s) respond they way he or she feels but does not really cause changes in the administration compared to the laws when being enacted.Yes I agree that laws should not be rushed without proper scrutiny but our MPs had enough time deliberate and see which laws are in the interest of all people.
At the Namibia perspective when legislative becomes inactive it has detrimental impacts on national development, institutions are not strengthened and no legislation government reforms may not implemented again institutions may continue operating under laws that no longer reflects present – day realities.
Observation from young people in the parliament
Most of our young MPs seems they have lost the compass, their participation is blurred and not really impressing the voters, they go there sit and take photos and being lectured by veteran MPs in fact they are completely running out ideas. Only one member of parliament who draws the attention of public when she tabled a motion on urban land crises which declared by the president as state of emergency the rest still struggling to table motions that carry weights.
On the side of speaker
A healthy parliament requires fair and impartial leadership from the speaker.I have noticed that our speaker at some point is bias and does not applies fairness and rule of the house accordingly to all MPs ,you could find her sometimes rule out the motions of members of parliament from opposition parties and favor those ones from her party which is SWAPO and that type of behaviour has also erodes democracy.
Any perception of bias – whether through selective recognition of members unequal treatment of motion as it has over times complained by AR leader Job Amupanda can discourage robust debate and weaken parliament credibility.
As parliament resumes after the recess, I urge members of the parliament to go back to the drawing board and restore public confidence by prioritising and processing bills that really address urgent national challenges and members should work as team and just to remind them that voters are watching their actions.
*Matheus Hangula is a political analyst
