Eba Kandovazu
Deputy Leader of the Landless People’s Movement, Henny Seibeb, is calling on National Assembly Speaker, Peter Katjavivi to resign, characterizsing him “an evil old man”.
Seibeb remarks after Katjavivi refused to hand him minutes from the Privileges and Immunity Committee’s meetings, which found him and fellow LPM leader, Bernadus Swaartboi, guilty following their conduct in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address by President Hage Geingob in April.
The Committee has recommended: a reprimand; a fine not exceeding the value of a month’s salary or a reduction of salary or allowances for a period not exceeding 15 days.
Seibeb today told journalists that the movement requested for minutes from the 12 meetings he said were held by the Committee. According to him, the two LPM leaders intend to challenge the Committee’s verdict in the High Court.
“An evil man trying to smile and be a diplomat. That is a myth. He must go forever. This man must go and rest because it is an embarrassment. How many Bills were passed this year? It is supposed to be 31. Only the National Budget Bill is being passed. Even now we’re discussing the mid-term review. That is the only bill that is getting passed,” Seibeb says.
“If your intention is to approach the court on this matter, you are not entitled to any pre-litigation discovery. We advise that you make use of the mechanisms available to you in terms of the High Court rules to obtain discovery in the cause of action you intend to pursue. The Committee’s rights remain reserved to decide whether, when and how to make public any information, including information at private deliberations and material received in connection with the inquiry,” Katjavivi says in a letter addressed to LPM.
“I don’t even know whether Katjavivi has convened any meeting thus far. It is common cause that we be given not only a half report but also minutes. We want to see how the meetings took place and every recording. They claim there were 12 meetings so we want to see the documentary evidence of what transpired. In democracy, I understand why Katjavivi must write to us such rubbish. Whether or not we intend to go to the High Court, for Katjavivi it is immaterial. Whether or not I decide to use the document as toilet paper, it is immaterial to Katjavivi. They claim it is transparent and open Parliament. That old man is a very evil old man,”Seibeb remarks.
Seibeb and Swaartboi were barred from the National Assembly by Katjavivi, after Swartbooi was escorted from it before pushing over the ceremonial mace. Shortly after that, Seibeb was escorted out by President Hage Geingob’s bodyguard in a chaotic fit that led to the adjournment of the National Assembly. This was after he tore the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) document, while walking towards the President.
The two LPM leaders unsuccessfully approached the High Court to overrule Katjavivi’s decision to barr them from the National Assembly. They successfully appealed the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court.
