Zambezi residents agitate on outdated laws

KATIMA MULILO – Residents in the Zambezi region have challenged Parliament to review outdated laws, strengthen public consultations and improve accountability, saying some legislation and policies no longer reflect the realities and needs of communities.

The concerns were raised during a National Council outreach engagement in Katima Mulilo, where community members questioned Parliament’s responsiveness to issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), substance abuse, learner welfare and the involvement of traditional authorities in lawmaking.

Riaan Siyama raised concern about laws inherited from the colonial era, including legislation dealing with sodomy, and questioned whether sufficient consultations were being held with traditional leaders when laws and policies affecting communities were developed.

Responding, Secretary to the National Council Tousy Namiseb acknowledged that Namibia still has inherited laws, including Roman-Dutch and European common law, as well as legislation introduced during South African administration.

He said these laws remain in force but are subject to the Constitution, adding that the country is gradually reviewing and cleaning up its statute book.

Namiseb explained that the Law Reform and Development Commission, under the Ministry of Justice, conducts in-depth studies of old laws and makes recommendations on which should be repealed.

He stressed that law reform must be accompanied by thorough consultations, including public hearings and structured engagements with relevant stakeholders such as traditional authorities.

“When we deal with all these issues, rights always have that issue of competing rights, and we have to balance the rights,” he said.

Using abortion as an example, Namiseb said issues involving morality and rights attract diverse views from religious institutions, traditional leaders and women’s rights organisations, making broad consultation essential before decisions are taken.

He thanked the residents for encouraging Parliament and its institutions to strengthen public hearings and stakeholder engagement before adopting laws.

Meanwhile, Maria Sunga called for greater parental involvement in educating children about sexual health and the dangers of alcohol abuse.

She said some parents fail to take responsibility for guiding their children and sometimes confront teachers instead of listening when schools raise concerns about their children’s behaviour.

Sunga urged parents and learners to participate in engagements organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.

Festus Sheehama questioned how communities could hold elected leaders accountable when they fail to deliver on campaign promises.

National Council Chairperson Lukas Sinimbo Muha said political parties have a primary responsibility to monitor the performance of their elected representatives, but stressed that leadership challenges cannot always be resolved by simply replacing individuals.

He said Parliament must also examine laws and systems that may hinder development and amend or repeal those that no longer serve the public interest.

“You may still change your leader and bring in another person, but if the system remains intact, it will not help anything,” Muha said.

Oscar Nyanda Nyza, a member of the Katima Mulilo Urban Constituency Development Committee, also sought clarity on the difference between voting and non-voting members of the National Assembly.

Muha explained that the National Assembly has 104 members, comprising 96 elected members and eight members appointed by the President.

He said all members participate in parliamentary debates and contribute to discussions, but only the 96 elected members have voting rights.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for learners to understand how young people are selected to participate in parliamentary structures.

Director in the National Council Chairperson’s Office, Petrus Kavhura, explained that the Junior National Council is an initiative of the National Council, with three school-going children from Grades 8 to 11 nominated by each Regional Council.

He said the selection considers gender representation, disability, rural backgrounds and diversity, while the Children’s Parliament, an initiative of the National Assembly, uses an essay-based selection process.

Muha said the National Council outreach programme seeks to take Parliament closer to communities and institutions, enabling citizens to understand its work and raise issues affecting them.

–[email protected]

Pic: communities

The post Zambezi residents agitate on outdated laws appeared first on New Era.