Staff Reporter
AT the behest invitation of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Headquarters in Berlin, Speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi, will be leading a Parliamentary Delegation to the KAS Dialogue Programme in Berlin and Erfurt, Germany, from 19 to 23 September 2022.
The review meeting was initially scheduled for March 2022, but could not take place during that period due to equally important commitments.
The official parliamentary delegation will consist of Apius !Auchab, Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele, Diederik Isaak Vries, Phillipus Wido Katamelo, Dr. Rebecca Kapitire Ndjoze-Ojo, Edson Edmund Isaaks and Winnie Rauha Moongo.
Rafael Hangula, the Parliamentary Public Relations Officer (PRO), stated that the dialogue programme will strengthen and consolidate the existing bilateral agreement, review the progress on the implementation, as well as the exchange of experiences, particularly in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the two countries.
“The two parties will further engage on professional and technical challenges in the course of the growing digitalisation and the important role and functions of Parliament as guarantor of democracy. In addition, they will also look at the importance and working methods of parliamentary standing committees, ways of strengthening citizen engagement in parliamentary work, including research, information, media relations and publication. As part of the bilateral engagement, Speaker Prof. Katjavivi will also meet his counterpart Hon. Bärbel Bas, President of the German Bundestag,” Hangula said.
The delegation will further engage with members of the Bundestag Digital Affairs Committee and the Petitions Committee for bilateral parliamentary exchange, amongst other meetings and engagements.
Over the years, the Namibian Parliament and KAS shared sound bilateral relations and through KAS sponsorship, the Parliament of Namibia has improved its work, especially in the areas of strengthening democracy, publications and enhancing citizenry participation. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was concluded with the German Bundestag in 2018, with KAS as the implementing partner. Cooperation with Parliament is an integral part of the KAS Country Programme Namibia. The trip is fully funded by KAS.
