By Emma Kakololo
WINDHOEK
Namibian parliamentarians are on a seven-day visit to the Federal Republic of Germany where they will meet fellow parliamentarians to exchange information on the socio-political and economic developments of the country as well as Southern Africa.
Upon their arrival on July 2, the Namibian delegation under the leadership of Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the National Assembly met with Erich Iltgen of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and elected President of the Legislative Assembly of the Federal State of Saxony, where they appealed for a framework for infrastructural support from the Saxony State Assembly to the National Assembly of Namibia.
Later that evening, the delegation met Saxony’s Minister of Justice Geert Mackenroth, according to a statement from the Namibian Embassy in Berlin.
This time around, the discussions focused on the effects of global warming with special reference to Africa. They urged industrialized countries to take a greater leading role in the campaign.
Delegates also expressed concern over the lack of entrepreneurial opportunities for upcoming youngsters and looked into possibilities of facilitating programmes within the framework of existing and new bilateral agreements to assist Small and Medium Enterprises owned and/or managed by youth and young adults.
In addition, the meeting also pleaded with the German State to assist in lobbying for German Football Association (DFB) to consider Namibia as a training base during the 2010 World Cup, because of its close proximity to Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Saxony was also urged to consider new ways of assisting the Brave Warriors as well as taking part in the further development of youth clubs and sports institutions in the country.
Gurirab is accompanied by his spouse Joan, Swapo Parliamentary Chief Whip and Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration, Dr Hage Geingob; DTA Chief Whip and Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts, Johan de Waal; Swapo member and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Women’s Caucus, Lucia Basson; CoD Official Opposition member as well as member of several parliamentary portfolio committees, Tsudao Gurirab; and NUDO Chief Whip and member of several parliamentary portfolio committees, Arnold Tjihuiko.
The delegation is to hold further talks with Saxony’s Commissioner for Immigrants, Friederike de Haas. They will visit the State Porcelain Manufactory of Meissen as well as German Vice-Chancellor, Franz M??????’??