Peter Katjavivi

Swartbooi, Seibeb feels penalty unclear

Swartbooi, Seibeb feels penalty unclear

Eba Kandovazu THE Landless People's Movement (LPM) is claiming that the penalty recommendations by the National Assembly privileges and immunities committee have not properly been communicated, nor are they clear. LPM’s Spokesperson, Eneas Emvula, says the party's next course of action will only be determined once the penalty against Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb are clear. The penalties recommended by the committee are; a reprimand, a fine not exceeding the value of a month's salary or twice the value of the unethically-derived benefit or a reduction of salary or allowances for a period not exceeding 15 days. The committee yesterday…
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LPM drags Peter Katjavivi to ICC

LPM drags Peter Katjavivi to ICC

Andrew Kathindi The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has dragged Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi to the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to a letter drafted by LPM leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, the political party is seeking the ICC’s intervention and investigation into Katjavivi’s conduct. Swartbooi made reference to Article 7 (h) and (k) of the ICC, which alludes to systematic attacks and inhumane acts as being equivalent to the “crimes being commissioned against” him and Seibeb. “The Speaker has withdrawn Hon. Henny Seibeb the Deputy Leader and Chief Whip in National Assembly and I the Leader of the Landless…
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LPM lodges Supreme Court appeal

LPM lodges Supreme Court appeal

Andrew Kathindi The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has lodged an appeal against the Supreme Court a decision by High Court Judge Kobus Miller, to dismiss its leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, and Henny Seibeb’s application against Speaker of Parliament, Peter Katjavivi. The application was to set aside Katjavivi’s indefinite suspension of the two LPM leaders from Parliament’s Chamber following their forceful removal after being deemed disruptive during President Hage Geingob’s parliamentary state of the nation address last month. The High Court dismissed the application with costs. The appeal was lodged last week on 12 May. The LPM legal representatives argued that Judge…
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LPM High Court judgement questioned

LPM High Court judgement questioned

Andrew Kathindi The High Court’s decision to dismiss the Landless People’s Movement’s (LPM) application to set aside Speaker of Parliament, Peter Katjavivi’s indefinite suspension of Bernandus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb could set a worrying precedent. These were the views of Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) President Mike Kavekotora, who sits on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and Internal Arrangements (STROC). The STROC according to parliament’s spokesperson, David Nahogandja, generally deals with matters such as misconduct before it is brought before the Privileges Committee. Kavekotora claimed that Katjavivi lied when he said the matter was dealt…
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High Court postpones LPM’s Parliament case

High Court postpones LPM’s Parliament case

Andrew Kathindi A ruling on an urgent application with the High Court, filed by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) to challenge the Speaker’s decision to have the leaders of the LPM withdrawn from the National Assembly, was postponed to Monday 26 April. This was confirmed to Windhoek Observer by Parliament’s Spokesperson, David Nahogandja. “Case postponed to Monday to allow responded enough time to respond.” This comes as LPM’s leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, and the party’s Chief Whip, Henny Seibeb, were removed from Parliament after being deemed by the Speaker, Peter Katjavivi, to be disruptive during a question and answer session with President…
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Katjavivi bars Swartbooi, Seibeb from Parliament

Katjavivi bars Swartbooi, Seibeb from Parliament

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, and the party’s Parliamentary Chief Whip, Henny Seibeb, have been barred from attending Parliament by Speaker of the House, Peter Katjavivi after they were forcibly removed from the Chambers last week. Swartbooi and Seibeb were not in Parliament for Monday’s session. "In the meantime, the Speaker ruling of Thursday, 15 April, 2021, that the two Members of Parliament (MPs) are withdrawn from the Chamber remains in force until it is set aside on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and Internal Arrangements. Further penalties will be…
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Katjavivi must not ‘escort’, he must retire

A reliable source repeated a conversation he had earlier this year with the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament, Peter Katjavivi. When asked why he would not retire rather than attempt a second term as Speaker at this age, the Speaker said, “I want to escort my friend to his final term.” The ‘friend’ he refers to is President Hage Geingob. The two near octogenarians, indeed share a long history of friendship and comradery. But, the comment made as related, is quite telling. The Speaker’s decision to stay in office may not have been to first serve the people of Namibia,…
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No blame game for Fishrot – Speaker

No blame game for Fishrot – Speaker

Andrew Kathindi Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, has refused to apportion blame on himself and members of parliament (MPs) for allowing fishy amendments to the Marine Resources Act to pass through parliament under their watch. Amendments to the Act gave former Fisheries Minister, Bernard Esau, exclusive power to issue fishing quotas, which later gave way to what became nationally known as Fishrot, after several individuals, including Esau and former Justice Minister, Sacky Shanghala were implicated in a money laundering scheme worth over N$150 million. Katjavivi told the Windhoek Observer that any law brought before parliament is brought in…
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