Auleria Wakudumo
Lawmaker Inna Hengari has advised her colleagues to move beyond political affiliations and collectively serve the wishes and aspirations of all Namibians, irrespective of which party they support.
Hengari made this call to her peers through a statement ahead of yesterday’s opening of Parliament.
“I have also considered the shared responsibility of my colleagues across the aisle in our National Assembly. It is reasonable to assume that everyone who enters public service does so with genuine intentions for our country. At its heart, the conviction to see ordinary Namibians thrive under laws and policies made in their interest must be what drives us all.
“While personal or economic circumstances may influence the decision to run, the core desire remains unchanged:
to build a better Namibia for everyone,” Hengari said.
Among others, she also reflected on her time in the Legislature.
“We have adopted reports on youth unemployment, formalising the informal sector, wildlife protection, the state of our economy, conditions in holding cells, dilapidated school infrastructure and the list continues. Before adoption, debates were often robust, not to reject findings but to strengthen recommendations and support those tasked with implementation,” she said.
She then addresses what appears to be the elephant in the room.
Hengari said, as politicians, they are quick to provide diagnostics to hardships confronting ordinary Namibians while offering little to no solutions.
This politicking, she said, must fall. “The politics of diagnosis and the politics of blame are close relatives, seductive distractions that blind us to our own role in solving these challenges. It is painful to admit – but last year, I saw colleagues succumb to this trap during debate on my motion about how our economy and financial architecture, by design, sustain inequality, restrict access to finance and deepen poverty,” Hengari said.
She continued that, “True to form, I paired the diagnosis with detailed proposals for reform. I expected discussion to build from there. Instead, it veered into personal venting, vague assertions and anecdotes, rarely grounded in research or constituent input. The debate became a therapy session rather than a path to action.”
Analysts
As Parliament opened yesterday, analysts have called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommit themselves to their constitutional mandate.
Public policy analyst Marius Kudumo said Parliament, as the legislative authority under the Namibian Constitution, must prioritise passing laws that improve the material conditions of citizens and address the country’s pressing challenges.
“MPs are expected to pass laws that improve the lives of the people. In conducting their business, they must be guided by the constitution, the law, public interest and their conscience,” Kudumo said.
He added that non-performance by public representatives should not be tolerated, as it sends a dangerous message that failure is acceptable.
He added that Parliament must focus on strategies and plans that address underdevelopment, unemployment, economic growth and social welfare, including quality education and healthcare.
He attributed the low number of bills passed into law partly to the failure of the executive to table legislation, as well as internal inefficiencies within Parliament itself. “Parliamentarians need competent, high-level support to effectively carry out their mandate,” he said.
In addition, political analyst and lawyer Natjirikasora Tjirera echoed similar concerns, calling for a culture of service and seriousness among MPs.
“I expect a more committed Parliament where members execute their national duties with honesty and integrity,” Tjirera said. He urged MPs to empower themselves through continuous self-education and to always engage issues with informed opinions. Tjirera criticised the conduct of debates in Parliament, saying the legislature should not be reduced to a platform for insults and political showmanship.
“Parliament should be a house of hope for Namibians, not a forum for exchanging insults,” he said.
The analyst argued that some MPs do not fully understand the importance of their roles and instead treat Parliament as a popularity contest. He also raised concern over unresolved land disputes in communal areas, warning that Parliament’s failure to decisively address the land issue has turned it into a ticking time bomb.
He cited recent deadly land disputes and urged lawmakers to enact legislation that empowers law enforcement to act swiftly on illegal land occupations and eviction orders issued by traditional courts.
Tjirera cautioned that Namibia’s criminal justice system is under severe strain due to capacity constraints, resulting in delayed trials. He called for urgent reforms, including the introduction of plea bargaining, to reduce case backlogs.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ben Mulongeni urged Parliament to revisit and amend outdated laws that hinder development.
He called for a revolutionary approach to governance and law-making, arguing that many existing laws favour the rich and educated at the expense of the poor. “It is unacceptable for Parliament to pass only two bills in a year. Laws are meant to improve the lives of the people,” Mulongeni said.
He stressed the importance of good governance, sound decision-making processes and the establishment of neutral commissions to guide national development.