George Sanzila
The National Assembly unanimously adopted motions presented in the House supporting the people of Cuba and Palestine, and the self-determination
of the Saharawi people.
The motions were tabled by members of parliament Leevi Katoma, Henny Seibeb and Patience Masua.
In July last year, National Assembly Speaker professor Peter Katjavivi proposed the tabling of a motion on Cuba in the Namibian parliament when he met the-
newly accredited Cuban ambassador to Namibia, Sergio Vigoa de la Uz, after the latter praised Namibia for its continued support of efforts calling for the lifting
of the United States’ embargo against Cuba.
The ambassador stated then that the protracted embargo had adversely affected Cuba’s economy, resulting in a constant shortage of food and other essentials such as oil.
Katjavivi agreed, adding that Cuba deserved special attention from Namibia, given the two countries’ long-standing diplomatic relations, dating back to the time of the struggle for independence.
The embargo against Cuba, which restricts the flow of goods to the Caribbean island nation, has been in place for nearly 60 years.
Tabling the motion in the House yesterday, Katoma demanded the end of what he called “the inhumane and unwarranted economic blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba and its citizens, the immediate removal of Cuba from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, and the closure of the United States’ base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba,” among other demands.
The House further reiterated its commitment to world peace, seeing an end to the killings of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel, and the self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara.
Seibeb, who tabled the motion, noted the Namibian Parliament was alarmed by the grave humanitarian consequences brought on by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
He called for the endorsed two-state solution that would see Israel and Palestine peacefully as equal states in accordance with international law and United Nations’ resolutions.
Seibeb further implored the United Nations Security Council to facilitate an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of human life.
The UN Security Council recently passed a resolution, demanding an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan.
The resolution further demands the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and the expansion of the flow of aid into Gaza.
Over a month ago, Namibia made a presentation at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, Netherlands, in the case of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Namibia’s presentation followed the filing of a case by South Africa against Israel at the ICJ over the alleged breach of the UN Convention on Genocide by killing Palestinians in Gaza.
In her submission regarding the self-determination of the Saharawi people, Masua noted the continued occupation and illegal annexation of Western Sahara by Morocco was a violation of international law and various UN resolutions.
She demanded that all hostilities stop, including the withdrawal of Moroccan military forces from Western Sahara territories, and the urgent holding of a referendum to allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.
* George Sanzila works for the National Assembly in the division of research, information, publication and editorial services.