WINDHOEK – Local human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe says consideration of far-reaching constitutional amendments in parliament are rather worrying.
Tjombe expressed concern over what he says is the lack of consultations with the general public, which he says is a violation of the constitution.
The Constitutional Amendments and the Electoral Amendment Bills, which were tabled in parliament last week, if passed into law would give more power to the president and increase parliamentary seats.
Tjombe said it is the public’s constitutional right to influence the composition and policies of the government as contemplated by Article 17 of the Namibian Constitution and added that even consultations with the political opposition parties were wholly inadequate.
“What is sought to be amended is not an ordinary law, but the highest law of the land. That should be reason enough for extensive consultations in all corners of the country and with various stakeholders, such as youth movements, farmers, media, women’s groups and students, so that each of such member of parliament and interests groups would have a say and have their concerns and interests taken care of in such intended amendments,” he reckoned.
Tjombe said naturally this should take a few years so that all can participate in such an important matter.
“Not to have done that is a blatant violation of the Namibian Constitution, a piece of document which is the embodiment of our collective soul,” he added, saying parliament would be well advised to take the debate out of parliament into the squatter camps and rural areas.
President of the All People’s Party (APP) Ignatius Shixwameni said he found it odd how the Bills were being rushed through parliament unless there was an “agenda” its proponents wanted to accomplish before the presidential and National Assembly polls slated for November.
He said there was very limited consultation if at all and no one outside Windhoek was consulted.
The APP leader said that they made a three-page submission to the Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob when they saw the first drafts of the Bills.
He commended the opposition for having made meaningful contributions by keeping government in check for the past 25 years.
The Namibia Non-Governmental Organisation Forum Trust (NANGOF) was also concerned about the amendments, saying that several of the proposed changes appear to be an attempt to centralize power and undermine democracy.
“We therefore call upon cabinet to place this matter on hold and to allow for a full consultation with interested stakeholders and the public. There do not appear to be any justifiable arguments for rushing such amendments through parliament,” NANGOF said in a media statement issued last week.
NANGOF said the proposed changes require extensive national consultations with citizens, stakeholders and civil society.
Other parties that have also questioned the timing and urgency before national elections were the DTA, Swanu and the RDP.
By Magreth Nunuhe