WINHDOEK- Swapo Chief Whip Evelyn Nawases-Tayele says bullying is rife in the National Assembly, with some members of the executive accused of rail-loading bills they wish to be tabled in the National Assembly to receive preference at the expense of key parliamentary committee reports.
The situation is said to be one of the reasons some parliamentary committee reports take too long to be tabled – although they contain valuable input aimed at improving service delivery.
Parliamentary committee reports are compiled when MPs undertake regional visits to collect first-hand information on various pressing issues upon which they compile reports on their findings, which are then tabled in parliament with recommendations.
“The work of committees is often dragged back and the tabling of reports delayed because the executive brings bills to parliament which they want to table and these bills are given preference on the order paper,” Nawases-Tayele told a press conference in Windhoek yesterday.
Committees are mainly made up of parliament backbenchers from both the ruling party and opposition, most of whom lack greater influence in the National Assembly.
This has resulted in some committees delaying the tabling of reports even by more than a year.
Nawases-Tayele said there is a need for a parliamentary structure to be established which deals specifically with recommendations contained in reports compiled by parliamentary committees that have undertaken fact-finding regional visits.
But, while committee reports continue to receive less prominence, committee members continue to pocket thousands of dollars through subsistence and travelling allowances during regional trips.
National Assembly Speaker Professor Peter Katjavivi said there is a need for a committee system to evaluate the need for resources for those serving on these committees.
With the expansion of the National Assembly from 78 to 104 members, the nine standing parliamentary committees will be the biggest beneficiaries with more backbenchers having taken up seats in the National Assembly.
The nine parliamentary committees are the Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and Internal Arrangements, Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security.
Others are the Standing Committee on Economics, Natural; Resources and Public Administration, Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development, Standing Committee on Gender and Family Affairs, and Standing Committee on Information Communication and Technology.