Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698753695760.pdf (Namibia)
TENTH SESSION, FIFTH NATIONAL COUNCIL MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS Thursday, 30 November 2017 (09:30 - 13:00) No.27 - 2017 The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

1.0 The Chairperson took the Chair.

2.0 The Chairperson recited the Prayer and Affirmation.

3.0 NOTICE OF MOTION(S) Hon.


Tobias moved without notice: That the Committee Stage and Third Reading Stage of the Appropriation Amendment Bill [B.18 – 2017] be taken today, Wednesday, November 30, 2017, in accordance with Rule 51(1)(i) of the Standing Rules and Orders of the National Council.

4.0 DEBATE ON COMMITTEE STAGE FIRST ORDER Debate on Committee Stage – Appropriation Amendment Bill [B.18 – 2017].

-102- The Chairperson put the question: That she leaves the Chair.

Agreed to.
Agreed to.

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

The Vice-Chairperson then took the Chair.

Council in Committee: Clause 1, was put and agreed to.

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

Council resumed: 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.


5.0 DEBATE ON THIRD READING SECOND ORDER READ Debate on Third Reading – Appropriation Amendment Bill [B.18 – 2017].

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

Agreed to.

-103- The Acting Secretary then read the Bill a Third Time.

The Bill was passed without amendments.

6.0 CLOSING STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON Hon.


Mensah-Williams, Chairperson of the National Council made a Statement to the House at the closing of the Tenth Session of the 5th National Council on 30 November 2017.
The Statement is reproduced hereunder: “HONOURABLE BERNARD SIBALATANI, VICE-CHAIRPERSON OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL, HONOURABLE HILMA NICANOR, DEPUTY MINISTER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, HONOURABLE LEBBIUS, CHIEF WHIP OF THE RULING PARTY IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL, MS EMILIA MKUSA, SECRETARY TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL, HONOURABLE MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

We have come to the end of our sitting.

This was also our last one for this calendar year 2017.
When I look back, believe that the Honourable Members of this august House of Review have worked very hard to deliver on the mandate of the National Council as accorded to us with the Namibian Constitution.

As we break for the festive season, we can look back at 2017 with a great sense of satisfaction because this House continued on the path of adding value to the legislative mandate of the Parliament of our Republic.
This was all down to the great work ethic that the National Council has firmly internalized over the years.

-104- In this regard, I also would like to pass on my sincere gratitude to the Vice- Chairperson, Hon.

Bernard Sibalatani for ably coordinating the work of all the standing committees to ensure that they stayed on track in implementing their annual work plans.

To the committee chairpersons and their members, a job well done for delivering as expected despite many challenges.
I want to also recognize the important work our able Chief Whip, Hon.

Lebbius Tobias, in ensuring that discipline prevailed throughout.

I am happy to inform the general public that the National Council this calendar year did not have its business interrupted as a result of not having a quorum.

I thank the Chief Whip and the other whips in this regard; as well as each and every honourable member for keeping to their oath of office.
To our hardworking and capable staff members who always supported us at every step in 2017: Thank you Madam Secretary, Deputy Secretary and the entire management and staff complement; we are grateful!

Honourable Members, The National Council is not an island; it is a part of the state machinery.

The National Council also works with a multitude of public, private, non-governmental and international stakeholders who all play important diverse roles in helping us to deliver on our mandate.
I would like to commence this part of my speech by expressing my sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, for his visionary leadership and for safeguarding national peace.

In the same vein, our collective thanks also go to out Cabinet for the pivotal role it plays in the law-making process.
I further wish to extend our sincere gratitude to our sister House, the National Assembly, for playing its part in maintaining the harmonious relationship which exists between the two Houses of Parliament.

-105- We thank all the United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, regional and international bodies who worked with us during 2017.
Many thanks also go to the media, who continued to provide wide and excellent coverage of the work of the National Council, both here in the Chamber and when we went out to execute our committee work, among other things.

Most of all, we once again thank all Namibians in all the 121 constituencies for giving us the mandate to represent you in parliament.

Honourable Members, Christmas is near, and our hearts are slowly starting to fill with the spirit and cheerfulness of the festive season.
Please allow me, on your behalf, to send out the National Council’s season’s greetings to all Namibians.

We wish them a Merry Christmas!

I pray to the Almighty God to ask for a festive season free from violence and road accidents.

See you all again in 2018, refreshed and ready to work once again!

Thank you!” 7.0 Hon.

Tobias, seconded by Hon.

Kandjii, adjourned the Council at 10:05 until further notice.
Acting Secretary of the National Council J. Mupurua ____________________________________________ -106-