Parties clash over Pan African Parliament seats

Parties clash over Pan African Parliament seatsOpposition contest for remaining seats “PDM and LPM have done a great job in keeping the ruling party on its toes, it would be a travesty if such a small issue divides them,” a source said. STAFF REPORTER







WINDHOEK

It took a heated debate to reach consensus on who will form part of the delegation to represent Namibia as a continental lawmaker at the Pan African Parliament (PAP).

With Swapo from the onset deciding to send three of its members, only two seats remained up for grabs.

It is understood that, initially, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) wanted to occupy the remaining two seats. This was, however, met with resistance from the Landless Peoples Movement (LPM), which felt it deserved a seat.

As the official opposition party, boasting 16 seats in the National Assembly, PDM allegedly felt that it was entitled to the remaining seats and that LPM has no grounds to claim anything because they only have four seats.

There are, however, arguments that the allocations should be based on parliament in its entirety - National Council and National Assembly.

The situation, sources privy to the matter said, threatened to strain the relationship between the two parties.

‘Travesty’

“PDM and LPM have done a great job in keeping the ruling party on its toes, it would be a travesty if such a small issue divides them. PDM must also be considerate and allow others to get exposure also,” said the source.

PDM and LPM currently have 18 and 10 seats in Parliament respectively.

The parties eventually reached consensus and decided to finalise the list.

National Assembly Speaker Peter Katjavivi on Tuesday announced that Swapo’s Hamunyera Hambyuka, Loide Kasingo and Popular Democratic leader McHenry Venaani would be the representatives from the National Assembly.

The other two members will come from the National Council.

It is understood that the two members from the council will be from Swapo and LPM.

Namibia will also be represented by Utaara Mootu (LPM), Vipuakuje Muharukua (PDM) and three Swapo MPs, Agnes Kafula, Phillipus Katamelo and Paula Kooper, on the SADC Parliamentary Forum.