TALKING POINTS FOR THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PRIME MINISTER, DR. HAGE G. GEINGOB ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA AND ELECTORAL LAW REFORM PROJECT (ELRP), AUGUST 13, 2014 • Good afternoon and thank you for your attendance of this very important meeting. • DISCUSSIONS HAVE COMMENCED IN PARLIAMENT As you are aware, discussions have commenced in Parliament regarding the proposals to amend certain sections of the Namibian constitution as well as reform the Electoral Commission of Namibia. • EXTENSIVE COUNTRY WIDE CONSULTATIONS It was expected that these proposals would be very emotive, rousing many opinions from all corners of our society. And it is for this reasons that we undertook extensive countrywide consultations on these matters. • BEFORE MY OFFICE LAW REFORM CONSULTATIONS Before the consultations at my office with political parties, the Law Reform and Development Commission had already undertaken numerous consultations with all concerned groups regarding the proposed amendments. • CONSULTATIONS WITH POLITICAL PARTIES We held highly successful consultations with political parties at the Office of the Prime Minister where each proposed amendment was explained and debated thoroughly. All political parties were allowed to provide inputs which were incorporated in some of the proposed amendments. SWAPO Party Caucus, President, Cabinet, Speaker and Chairman, DTA, RDP, RP, NUDO, APP, COD, SWANU and UDF. • SENTIMENT FROM CIVIL SOCIETY AND OTHERS Given this scenario, it is disappointing to note some of the sentiment that has been echoed from certain sectors of society who are painting a picture as if these amendments have been secretly discussed behind closed doors or dropped from heaven. • PEOPLE MISINFORMED Some people are simply misinformed and are being misled by those who are intent to rouse up feelings of discontent for their own objectives. There is talk of dragging Government to court. Let me tell you that these matters are currently being debated in Parliament and therefore to talk of taking Government to court is incorrect since two arms of Government cannot interfere with each other. • PROTESTERS NOT CLEAR AS TO WHY THEY OPPOSE AMENDMENTS Another important point I want to raise is that although there has been an outcry from various groups, mainly Civil Society Organizations, there is still no clarity as to exactly why they are opposing these amendments. It seems many people feel slighted by the fact that they were not consulted or feel that the consultations were not inclusive enough. • PROCESS STARTED IN 2011 As I explained earlier, consultations on these matters have been ongoing for several years now. Mr. Sacky Shangala from the Law Reform and Development Commission has availed himself to explain these matters during this time period so it is strange to hear that people claim that these amendments are being sneaked in without consultation and in order to consolidate power. • DICTATORSHIP ACCUSATIONS Let me first address the sentiments that I have heard claiming that Namibia is turning into a dictatorship. Niels Bohr said the following about dictatorship and I quote, “The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy, but the best weapon of a democracy should be the weapon of openness.” And truthfulness. Are we claiming that the proposed amendments to the constitution have taken place in secrecy? Some who capitalize on the fact that the masses lack access to information want you to believe so. Let me tell you that they couldn’t be further from the truth. Others have said that it is an attempt by Prime Minister Hage Geingob to consolidate power. How can that be the case when consultations began in 2011 before the 2012 SWAPO Party Congress and before I became Prime Minister? Let me therefore clarify some of supposed contentious issues. • RATIONALE FOR VICE PRESIDENCY It is true that by introducing the position of Vice-President to be part of the Presidency in addition to the already existent post of Prime Minister will make the Executive top-heavy. However, we need to look beyond the top heavy structure and focus on the intent of this amendment. Namibia is still a country divided along tribal lines. No one can deny that. My recent Statement in Parliament sought to address this issue. It is therefore important that we look at this top heavy structure in the context of Nation Building. What we are trying to achieve by this is to ensure that the Executive is representative of the diversity of our country, and in so doing foster a spirit of belonging and Nation Building. This may not necessarily be the case indefinitely. There may come a time when Namibian society will have progressed beyond the need for such consideration anymore. But for now, it is necessary. • PRESIDENT NEEDS A PEER There is a need for a peer with whom the President can engage in constructive discourse on policy matters. The Vice-President will therefore serve this role and deputize, advise and assist the Vice-President. • INCREASE IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY The increase of voting members in the National Assembly to 104 is reflective of the increase in population. We started with 95 constituencies across the country but we are now at 121. In Ghana, which is often lauded by the West as a beacon of democracy in Africa, the members of Parliament were increased from 200 to 230 after the December 2000 elections. That is normal in a democracy. As the social dynamics change the three organs of the State should always reflect those changes. Lastly, I would like to touch on the issue of Governors. Namibia is a Unitary State. When the President is elected, he is elected by one constituency which is Namibia. Let us not confuse decentralization with federalism. In the context of Nation Building, which I alluded to before, we should not promote regionalism and subsequent tribalism. For a President to appoint Governors is not dictatorship. It is a means for the President to appoint his/her representative in the region to ensure that national issues are promoted in all regions of the country. Chairpersons of the Management Committee of the Regional Council are not being stripped of any power and will remain the elected office-bearers. I think many people are missing the point of these proposed amendments and have let their fears run wild. It was Winston Churchill who once said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Well fellow Namibians what we are engaged in here is the perfection of our Constitution and not a sinister ploy for any person or group of people to consolidated power as some may claim. That is why changes are being introduced.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:46:40 +0000
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