Staff Reporter
SWAPO party veteran politician, has once again aired his frustration over the fact that two private members bills which he introduced last year in July, seeking to define the term “spouse” and amend the Marriage Act of 1961 to block the recognition of same-sex marriages in Namibia, have not been approved and signed by the President.
The bill, which seeks to criminalize same-sex marriage by enforcing fines of up to N$100,000 or up to six years imprisonment, has drawn different perspectives, with some supporting it while others deem it unconstitutional.
“Today, we are going into recess, until the 4th or 5th of June… Last year, in July, I introduced two bills in this august house. The bill was sent to the president for signing. I am going to read from the Namibian constitution. Article 56 states, ‘Every bill passed by Parliament in terms of this Constitution in order to acquire the status of an Act of Parliament shall require the assent of the President to be signified by the signing of the bill and the publication of the Act in the Gazette… Where are we now? It is eight months down the lane. Bills that were passed in November and December were already assented to; they were signed. But our bill that went there earlier, up to now nothing has happened. If it was as per article 4, then the president can decline, but now we are at sub-article 3 where the president has to communicate, and it took eight months now. The president has to communicate the reason why he or she is not assenting and we should look at it,” Ekandjo said.
He added that when a bill is tabled, it becomes the responsibility of the parliament to follow up, not the member who tabled it.
“I am saying this because every bill passed by this house, the member who introduced this bill, whether from executive, cabinet, or private bill, we table the bill there at that table. It’s no longer in our hands. It’s no longer for the member who introduced it to go to State House to ask about the bill and ask where it is,” Ekandjo said.
He further warned against Western influence in Namibia, adding that it will not be threatened by possible sanctions that may emanate from the bill from the West.
The deputy speaker, Loide Kasingo, added that the matter will be followed up.
