Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698753811347.pdf (Namibia)
EIGHTEENTH SESSION, FIFTH NATIONAL COUNCIL MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS ________________________________________________________________________ Thursday, November 05, 2020 (09:30 - 13:00) No.18 – 2020 The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

1.0 The Chairperson took the Chair.

2.0 The Chairperson read the Prayer and Affirmation.
3.0 REPORTS OF SELECT/STANDING COMMITTEES Honourable Mungenga laid upon the Table the Report of the National Council Standing Committee on Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs to the African Regional Parliamentary Conference on “Comprehensive Responses to Refugee situations – Effective Parliamentary Approaches” held in Midrand South Africa, from 11 to 13 November 2019.
4.0 NOTICE OF MOTION(S) Honourable Tobias moved a motion without notice in terms of Rule 114 read with Rule 51(1)(i) of the Standing Rules and Orders of the National Council, that the proceedings on Votes 15; 17; 19; 22; 27; 29; 32; 36; 37 and 38 of the Appropriation Amendment Bill [B.7 - 2020], be taken today, Thursday, 05 November 2020.

-62- Furthermore, move that the Third Reading be effected today, Thursday, 05 November 2020.
Finally, that proceedings on the said Votes be, in accordance with Rule 26 read with Rule 30 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the National Council, not interrupted if still under consideration at 13:00 hours.

5.0 DEBATE ON COMMITTEE STAGE FIRST ORDER READ Resumption of Debate on Committee Stage – Appropriation Amendment Bill [B.7 – 2020] [Votes 15; 17; 19; 22; 27; 29; 32; 36; 37 and 38].

The Chairperson put the question: That he leaves the Chair.

Agreed to.
Agreed to.

The Chairperson then called upon the Vice-Chairperson of the National Council and the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole Council, to take the Chair.

Hon.

Kauma then took the Chair.

Council in Committee: Votes 15; 17; 19 and 22 were put and agreed to.

The Council suspended business at 10:40 and resumed business at 11:10.

Votes 27; 29; 32; 36; 37 and 38 were put and agreed to.

Clause 1, the Schedule was put and agreed to.

Clause 2, the Short Title was put and agreed to.


-63- Council resumed: Hon.

Kauma, the Vice-Chairperson of the National Council and the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole Council, reported the Bill without amendments.

The Bill stood referred to Third Reading.

6.0 DEBATE ON THIRD READING SECOND ORDER READ.

Debate on Third Reading – Appropriation Amendment Bill [B.7 – 2020].

The Chairperson put the question: That Bill be read a Third Time.

Agreed to.
Agreed to.

The Secretary then read the Bill a Third Time.

The Bill was passed without amendments.

7.0 VISIT OF THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The Speaker of the National Assembly observed the Debates in the House.

The Presiding Officer acknowledged the presence of the Speaker and warmly welcomed him to the National Council Chamber.

8.0 CLOSING STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON Hon.


Sibalatani, Chairperson of the National Council made a Statement to the House at the closing of the last Nineteenth Session of the 5th National Council on 05 November 2020.
-64- The Statement is reproduced hereunder:  “Honourable Victoria Kauma, Vice-Chairperson of the National Council  Honourable Lebbius Tobias, Chief Whip of the Ruling Swapo Party in the National Council  Honourable Whips of the opposition parties in the National Council  Honourable Members  Mr. Tousy Namiseb, Secretary to the National Council, and your team  Ladies and Gentlemen.
As everyone is aware, we are concluding the Fifth National Council’s business this month and we will have the Regional Council elections on 25 November 2020, after which the Sixth National Council will be elected and sworn-in.

The National Council has a constitutional mandate to review all bills passed by the National Assembly in terms of Article 75(1) of the Constitution.
In this regard, all bills that were passed by the National Assembly and referred to the National Council were timeously and diligently debated and in terms of Article 75(2) reports were sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly on time.

In line with Article 74(1)(2), the National Council is also vested with an oversight function which it executes through its standing committees.

Since 2015, our committees have conducted oversight visits to all parts of the country.
As servants of the people, the executed their oversight role faithfully and with patriotically.

A number of our reports have led to some policy changes and corrective action by the Executive.

Furthermore, the Standing Committee on Public Account and Economy conducted public hearings on the reports of the Auditor General that were referred to the National Council in terms of Article 74(b).

Subsequently, reports were tabled in the House on time and constructive debates took place.
-65- In addition, the Fifth National Council along with the National Assembly also initiated the following projects which are still in the pipeline:  The establishment of the an Independent Parliamentary Service and Commission which is currently at a technical level committee; and  The creation of the Joint Rules of Parliament which is currently at an advanced stage with the joint-committee from both Houses.
Furthermore, the Fifth National Council advocated for the advancement of the proposed Constituency Development Fund Bill that was initiated by the Fourth National Council.

This Bill is currently being considered by the Cabinet Committee on Treasury.

The above projects remain unfinished business which we now pass on to the Sixth National Council to take forward and advocate in the national interest.
Honourable Members, When we took over from our predecessors in December 2015 many of us were first time Members of Parliament, we came from diverse backgrounds and from different political parties.

However, to this day I am still amazed at how quickly we hit the ground running and at how we achieved high levels of cooperation in the shortest time possible.

I want to sincerely thank the Honourable Vice-Chairperson; she was always ready, willing and fully capable to preside and assist whenever called upon.
I would like to also show my appreciation to her for her role as Coordinator of Standing Committees as well as the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole Council.

I must applaud the Honourable Chief Whip and the whips of the opposition for the role they played in ensuring that we always had a quorum during our sessions, members were punctual and that our debates were always civil, constructive and robust throughout our -66- term.
I do not recall a single day on which this House lacked a quorum or became ungovernable.

Equally, I want to commend the whips of the opposition for their cooperation and teamwork despite our different political affiliations.

I shall remain eternally grateful to all the Honourable Members for always observing the decorum of the House, for their great commitment and selflessness.

Honourable Members always adhered to the House Rules and kept to parliamentary conventions.
Honourable Members, The existence and operations of the National Council is eternally tied to the regions since the members of this House are elected from among the regional councils.

This relationship is codified both in the Regional Councils Act and in the Constitution.

Therefore, the National Council should be the stimulus for the decentralization agenda to effect the necessary developmental changes in the regions.
In fact, Rules 187 of our Standing Rules and Orders provides for the interaction between this House and the respective regional councils through the tabling of regional reports in the House.

My wish, therefore, is that the Sixth National Council works even closer with the regional councils to advance regional development.
Honourable Members, I want to express gratitude to the Honourable Speaker and the entire membership of the National Assembly for the close working relationship and support throughout these years.

-67- I also extend my gratitude to the Secretary and the entire staff complement for all their combined efforts and advice which made every sitting procedurally sound and every oversight visit go smoothly.
In conclusion, I extend my sincere appreciation to members of the public and the media who have been following our sessions with interest and for providing coverage.

It is indeed a positive sign that our people are taking more notice of National Council’s business as this affects all of us.

Honourable Members, Now that we have wrapped up our business here, we can return to our respective regions to go and prepare to take part and extensively campaign for the fast approaching elections.
In this regard, I urge all political parties to campaign hard but, with respect for our political opponents and within the laws of the land.

I wish you all good luck on the 25th of November 2020.

May God Bless the Republic of Namibia.

I thank you”.

9.0 Honourable Sibalatani, Presiding Officer adjourned the House at 13: 45 sine die.

Mr Tousy Namiseb Secretary to the National Council ______________________________________ -68-