Rudolf Gaiseb
Thrown out of Parliament after refusing to obey rulings by National Assembly’s presiding officer and speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Affirmative Repositioning’s activist-in-chief Job Amupanda alongside his inferior Tuhafeni Kalola, says the standing rules and orders are problematic when it comes to whether members can wear jeans or not.
“There is nothing wrong with the way I wore. Was I wearing trousers [as indicated in Parliament’s dress code]? Yes. Was I wearing a shirt? Yes. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what I was wearing… Nothing is going to change; we have not violated the rules,” Amupanda said.
The dress code clause in the standing rules and orders indicates, “The official dress for male Members of Parliament shall be a formal suit, a pair of long trousers, a formal shirt and formal jacket, African attire, a safari suit, a scarf or tie and formal shoes.”
Amupanda stated members are at Parliament to discuss laws and policies and hold the Executive to account.
Meanwhile, Kalola showed up with an arm sling and a band-aid on his left arm at Friday’s press briefing.
He stood on a point of privilege in Thursday’s session after Amupanda was denied an oral question because the leader wore jeans.
The rules also state that no party symbols, colours or attires must be worn or displayed in the chambers.
Prior to that, Kalola wore a cap with an AR logo inside the chambers.
He was told to remove it.
Subsequent to his point of privilege request being denied, Kalola refused to take his seat when ordered to do so; he stood up several times, for which the speaker repeated the ruling each time.
The speaker then, in accordance with the Standing Rules and Orders, requested that the member leave the chambers.
Kalola was unwilling to.
It was then, after many times imploring him to leave, she requested the sergeants-at-arms to escort him out.
Things took a turn, however, as Amupanda joined his subordinate, who was wrestling with the sergeants-at-arms, refusing to leave, turning Parliament into chaos.
Kalola was examined by the medical experts a few minutes later.
“I was treated yesterday, but I have to go back for a follow-up because my shoulder was a bit damaged. The shoulder dislocated,” he said on Friday.
In addition, AR chief whip, Vaino Hangula said it was degrading how the lawmakers voted by electorate were dragged out of the August house “like sheep to a slaughtered house.”
“My legs were in the air… and I was being dragged on the floor,” Kalola said.
Amid the scuffle, some chairs in chamber were ripped apart and left broken.
The statement signed by the National Assembly Secretariat issued on Thursday evening indicates it was disorderly conduct and breach of certain Standing Rules and Orders that led to the two members’ removal.
“The National Assembly remains committed to the maintenance of order, respect for parliamentary procedures and adherence to its Standing Rules. All members are expected to uphold the integrity and decorum of the House at all times,” it read.