WINDHOEK – Proceedings in the National Assembly (NA) came to a standstill yesterday, while deciding on whether or not to debate the Public Procurement Bill or to wait for a workshop on the proposed legislation. Swanu president, Usutuaije Maamberua, who opened the debate yesterday, proposed that more public consultation is needed before parliament approves the Bill and then proposed that the Bill be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts for further scrutiny and consultations.
While another MP was making his contribution on the Bill, Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila interjected, saying an understanding was reached during caucuses that a workshop for members of parliament is to be held first to provide a better understanding on the Bill before it is debated in parliament. For a few minutes there was complete silence in the house as MPs wondered which direction to take. It is not common for Bills to be taken for consultation in a workshop before a parliamentary debate commences.
“We wasted a lot of time, that should have been the first guidance from the minister (Saara) before we started with the debate,” a visibly agitated National Assembly Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab said. The Bill was tabled by Kuugongelwa-Amadhila last week and is aimed at regulating all public tenders and overhauling the current Tender Board procedures, among others. Kuugongelwa-Amdhila explained that she was not part of the consultations and was advised, that Maamberua would propose a workshop and not to contribute in the manner that he did. She then requested the NA to postpone the debate to next week Tuesday, while the finance ministry organizes a workshop this week for all members.
By Tonateni Shidhudhu