Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698933777216.pdf (Namibia)
- 17 – Wednesday, 23 February 2022 No.

6 – 2022 FIFTH SESSION, SEVENTH PARLIAMENT REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2022 The Assembly met pursuant to the adjournment.

1.

2.

The Speaker took the Chair and read the Prayer and Affirmation.

Announcement by the Speaker in terms of Rule 20(b) of the Standing Rules and Orders: The Speaker reported that he has been informed by the All Peoples Party (APP) that they have designated Hon.
Erastus Shuumbwa as the Party’s Parliamentary Leader and Hon.

Maria Kamutali as the Chief Whip.

The Party has also re-allocated its Members to various Parliamentary Standing Committees as follows; Hon.
Erastus Shuumbwa to serve on: Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and Internal Arrangements; Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs; Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense & Security; Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development and Family Affairs; and Standing Committee on Information, Communication Technology & Innovation.

Hon.
Hon.

Maria Kamutali to serve on: Standing Committee on Public Accounts; Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration; Standing Committee on Natural Resources; and Standing Committee on Human Resources and Community Development.

The Speaker declared theses Members as duly elected to the said Parliamentary Standing Committees.

3.
3.

The Deputy Minister of Industrialisation and Trade laid upon the Table: Annual Report of the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) for the year 2019 – 2020.

4.

ORAL QUESTION: Mr. Martin (PDM) asked the Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture (No.

12) – Replied to.

5.
FIRST NOTICE OF A MOTION: The Minister of Justice moved, seconded by the Deputy Speaker: That leave be given to amend the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, 2003, so as to insert a definition of “primary caretaker”; to extend the scope of “domestic relationship” to the primary caretaker of a child and clarify that a domestic relationship between a child and a parent continues even after the child has attained the age of 18 years; to strengthen safeguards against intimidation of complainants; to clarify the necessity to show urgency in order to obtain an interim protection order on an ex parte basis; to amend procedural matters relating to interim protection orders; to apply provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977, in relation to production of medical records in evidence in protection order proceedings; to apply the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 relating to vulnerable witnesses, cross-examination of witnesses and the admissibility of previous statements of children to proceedings relating to protection orders and domestic violence offences; to amend procedural matters relating to final protection orders; to amend the terms of protection orders so as to add provisions relating to the location or relocation of contents of a joint residence, directing the respondent not to interfere with legal custody of or control over a child and directing the respondent to take part in a counselling or treatment programme; to provide a maximum period pertaining to exclusive occupation of a shared residence on communal land; to provide for the issuing of emergency protection orders; to provide for notification of any breach of a protection order to the court; to provide that temporary maintenance orders included in protection orders be treated in the same way as maintenance orders under the Maintenance Act, 2003; to clarify that criminal proceedings for a domestic violence offence may be initiated simultaneously with proceedings for a protection order; to provide for the initiation of a procedure for suspending a firearm licence in relation to a person involved in the commission of a domestic violence offence; and to provide for incidental matters.
Agreed to.

Combating of Domestic Violence Amendment Bill [B.

1 – 2022] read a First Time.

The Minister of Justice moved, subject to Rule 32(a) of the Standing Rules and Orders, seconded by Ms. !Nawases-Taeyele: That the Bill be read a Second Time.

On the motion of Mr. Kauandenge, seconded by Dr. Iijambo, debate adjourned until Tuesday, 1 March 2022.

6.
6.

SECOND NOTICE OF A MOTION: Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Mr. Smit: That this House – Debate the state of the sport fraternity in Namibia in terms of facilities, structures, budget and the creation of a culture of a fit and healthy nation, as well as the role of regional and local government in enhancing sport development in the regions.

That this Motion be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee for further investigation and report back to this House.
On the motion of Ms. Hengai, seconded by Mr. Van Wyk, debate adjourned until Tuesday, 1 March 2022.

7.

THIRD NOTICE OF A MOTION: Mr. Martin moved, seconded by Ms. !Aebes: That this House – Debate the establishment of an association for the informal sector.

It is disheartening that the importance of informal traders in Namibia continue to be disregarded.

They are living in uncertainty and security, and are treated like criminals despite their immense contribution to the formal economy.
That this Motion be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee for further investigation and report back to this House.

On the motion of the Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, seconded by the Minister of Defence and veterans Affairs, debate adjourned until Wednesday, 2 March 2022.

8.
8.

FOURTH NOTICE OF A MOTION: The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services moved, seconded by Ms. Tiveze: Political Parity/Equivalence is a nonpartisan platform accelerating the energies of dedicated leaders and researchers changing the face of the world politics.

Adding more women to national political office is not just a matter of representation but it is our best chance to advance women’s civil leadership.
Research indicates that women bring a broad perspective to policymaking and wield a more collaborative approach than men alone.

Given that, I move that this Assembly discusses representation and participation of women in politics in Namibia; whether women are equally represented at all levels as their menfolk and if not, for this House to come up and adopt a solution to it.

On the motion of Mr. Van Wyk, seconded by Ms. Dienda, debate adjourned until Wednesday, 2 March 2022.

9.
9.

FIFTH NOTICE OF A MOTION: Mr. Smit moved, seconded by Mr.

Vries.

: Over the past 10 years or so it has become clear that many Namibians have started realizing that the gap between the deliberations of this august House and the people we are elected to serve has been growing rapidly.
Much is written in the media about grand new schemes that will bring new wealth to our country but most ordinary Namibians seem to have little faith that any of that money, if the plans become reality, will filter down to them.

That this House debate ways and means for bringing about the changes required to allow all the people of Namibia, irrespective of party political affiliation, to guide the drawing up of the annual budget.
That this Motion eventually be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee for investigation and report back to this House.

On the motion of the Prime Minister on Behalf of the Minister of Finance, seconded by the Minister in the Presidency, debate adjourned until Wednesday, 2 March 2022.

10.

SIXTH NOTICE OF A MOTION deferred by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, on behalf of Mr. Kauandenge, to Tuesday, 1 March 2022.

11.
11.

SEVENTH NOTICE OF A MOTION deferred by the Mover to Tuesday, 1 March 2022.

12.

EIGHTH NOTICE OF A MOTION: Ms. Moongo moved, seconded by Ms. Dienda: That this House – Discuss the conditions of Local Authorities and why many of them fail to execute their mandates and whether sufficient resources are availed by Central Government to empower them.

On the motion of the Minister of Health and Social Services, seconded by the Prime Minister, debate adjourned until Wednesday, 2 March 2022.

13.
13.

In terms of Rule 99(a) of the Standing Rules and Orders, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly at 17:48 until Thursday, 24 February 2022.

MS. L. KANDETU Secretary of the National Assembly Compiled by I. Nehoya