By Mathias Haufiku

WINDHOEK - Swapo MPs on Wednesday blocked a motion by DTA MP, Katuutire Kaura, proposing the road from Gobabis to Otjinene be renamed after President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Swapo MPs said they blocked the proposal because Kaura did not follow the correct procedures.

Kaura said he observed that amidst all the good Pohamba has done, there are no roads, streets or monuments named after him as has been the case with other political leaders.

Kaura tabled a motion in which he proposed that the tar road from Gobabis to Otjinene be named the President Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Road and the road to be tarred from Gobabis to Aminuis the Dr Chief Kuaima Riruako Road.

All 32 Swapo MPs who were present during Wednesday’s proceedings opposed the proposal. Four MPs (Nudo 2, DTA 1 and UDF 1) were in favour while the five Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) MPs abstained.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Jerry Ekandjo, opposed the proposal by stating that the naming of monuments is the work of regional councils and local authorities.

“Or are you making this proposal because it is an election year?” said Ekandjo.

Ekandjo further mentioned the separation of powers in terms of the legislative and executive tiers of the state should be maintained.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Joël Kaapanda and the Minister of Works and Transport, Erkki Nghimtina, respectively urged Kaura to follow the correct procedures by approaching the Omaheke Regional Council with his proposal.

The ruling party parliamentarians maintained they did not oppose the motion because they are against the naming of the road, but merely because they felt Kaura did not follow procedures.

The veteran DTA politician did not take the rejection lightly, accusing the Swapo MPs of practising “hypocrisy”.

“In the past we decided, in this House, to rename the J.G Strijdom Airport to Hosea Kutako International Airport ... now you want to tell us that parliament does not have the power to name the road after President Pohamba,” lashed out Kaura before taking his seat.