Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698933976416.pdf (Namibia)
EIGHTH SESSION, FIFTH NATIONAL COUNCIL MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS Wednesday, 24 May 2017 (09:30 - 13:00) No.14 - 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) 3.1 Hon.


Tobias moved a motion without notice: That the Committee Stage and Third Reading of the Witness Protection Bill [B.2 – 2017] be taken today, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in accordance with Rule 51(1)(i) of the Standing Rules and Orders of the National Council.

3.2 Hon.
Muha moved a motion without notice in terms of Rule 51 sub-rule (1)(i) of the Standing Rules and Orders, that the august House debate: a) b) The loss of human life as a result of human-wildlife conflict within Namibia; The damage caused by wild animals to property as a result of human-wildlife conflict within Namibia; -43- c) The role of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in the prevention of human and wildlife conflicts; and d) The lack of compensation and liability on the part of the Namibian Government for loss of human life and damage caused to property by wild animals within Namibia.
And, further, that this august House refer this matter to the Standing Committee on Habitat to: 1) Consult widely on the issue of compensation for the loss of human life resulting from the human-wildlife conflict with: a) b) c) Communities in areas affected by human-wildlife conflict; Relevant stakeholders involved with conservation of wildlife; and The Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
2) Study and scrutinize the current policies, regulations and relevant laws on wildlife conservation in Namibia; 3) Make comparisons between Namibian legislation, policies and regulations dealing with human-wildlife conflict with other jurisdictions; and 4) Report back to the House its findings, conclusions and recommendations on or before 30 November 2017.

The Chairperson put the question: That the Motion be adopted.

Agreed to.

The Motion was unanimously adopted.


4.0 FIRST ORDER READ Resumption of Debate on Committee Stage – Witness Protection Bill [B.2 – 2017].

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

-44- Agreed to.

The Chairperson then called upon Hon.

Sibalatani, Vice-Chairperson of the National Council and Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole Council, to take the Chair.

Hon.

Sibalatani then took the Chair.

Council in Committee: Clauses 1 to 84 were put and agreed to.
The Schedule was put and agreed to.

Clause 85, the 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 with amendments.

The Bill stood referred to Third Reading 5.0 DEBATE ON THIRD READING 5.1 SECOND ORDER READ Debate on Third Reading – Witness Protection Bill [B.2 – 2017].

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 with amendments.

-45- 5.2 THIRD ORDER READ Debate on Third Reading– Appropriation Bill [B.7 – 2017] The Chairperson put the question: That Bill be read a Third Time.

Agreed to.

The Secretary then read the Bill a Third Time.

The Bill was passed without amendments.


6.0 STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON Honourable Mensah-Williams, Chairperson of the National Council made a Statement to the House at the closing of the Sixth Session of the 5th National Council on 24 May 2017.

The Statement is reproduced hereunder: “Honourable Members, Ladies and gentlemen, Today marks the end of our first seating for this Financial Year 2017-2018.
It has indeed been a long but, productive seating, lasting for about three weeks from its commencement on 08 May 2017.

I believe that we remained true to our principle “Business Unusual” throughout.

We can all say with confidence and great satisfaction that we have delivered on what was expected from us.
Ladies and gentlemen, Before I go any further, I have the honour to announce to the public that all the 42 Members of the National Council have fulfilled the oaths of office they have taken by 100% declaring their assets.

I congratulate you Honourable Members for meeting this very important commitment!

-46- Honourable Members, Please allow me, at this juncture, to briefly report back to the nation on some of the work we have done since May 8, both inside the Chamber and outside.
Ladies and gentlemen, In accordance with the Constitution, the National Assembly had passed and referred five bills to the National Council for review, namely: 1.

Appropriation Bill 2.

Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 3.

Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Bill 5.

Witness Protection Bill During the intervening time, the Honourable Members undertook their lawmaking duties seriously and with commitment to their oath of office and service to the people.
The Members consulted a variety of stakeholders, from the line ministries, technical experts and also with government agencies on the bills before the House.

The reason for this was so that the Members could understand the contexts that gave rise to these new proposed laws and amendments.
After much productive debate and thought, the National Council has made the following decisions on the bills that were referred to it: • The House has passed the Appropriation Bill; and the Nature Conservation Amendment Bill; the Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Bill without any amendments.

• However, the House has passed the Witness Protection Bill with amendments.
-47- I would like to say that the decisions the National Council has taken were carefully considered and well thought through.

I can still recall the long consultations with the Ministry of Justice, law enforcement and the Office of the Ombudsman on the Witness Protection Bill.

These consultations and research ensured that the Members were in a position to add value to this Bill through the proposed amendments.
In this regard, I would like to thank the Honourable Vice Chairperson and for a job well done in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole House for diligently chairing the Committee Stage.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to report that during this sitting, all the standing committees finalized and adopted their respective annual plans for the year ahead.

In this regard, I would like to thank all the committee chairpersons and their members.
However, this is only the beginning, I therefore urge you Honourable Members to hit the ground running in implementing your plans.

On the behalf of all the Honourable Members, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly for his continued support and cooperation.

We thank the Secretary to the National Council and her staff for their professionalism and support of our work.
We recognize the value you add to our mandate as elected Members of Parliament We also take this opportunity to thank the NBC, in particular, for their continued live coverage of our sessions.

We are also grateful to the media for giving us space in their newspapers and radio stations.

Without you we would not reach our most important stakeholders, the people who voted for us to represent them.
Last but not least, we also thank the schools that brought their learners on a tour of -48- Parliament to see their elected lawmakers at work in the National Council.

We encourage more schools to follow suit.

Honourable Members, In the name of God, I wish you all a safe journey back to your respective constituencies!

I thank you!” 7.0 Hon.

Tobias, seconded by Hon.

Katamelo, adjourned the Council at 11:36 until further notice.
Ephraim G. Jane Acting Secretary of the National Council ______________________________________________ -49-