Staff Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VETERAN Swapo leader and nominated backbencher, Jerry Ekandjo, made history in Parliament by introducing a Private Members Bill that seeks to outlaw same-sex marriages in Namibia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Astonishingly, Ekandjo introduced the second reading of the bills that he cannot vote on, as he is a non-voting member of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introducing the Bill, Ekandjo stated that it is intended to invoke Article 81 and 45 of the Namibian Constitution to contradict the Supreme Court decision and define the term “spouse” in line with the representative nature of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It is common cause that Article 81 of the Namibian Constitution unambiguously provides Parliament with the power to contradict Supreme Court decisions,” Ekandjo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that Namibians must be aware that Article 78, sub-article 2, only prohibits interference by the Cabinet or Legislature with judges or any other judicial official, and it does not prohibit the contradiction of Supreme Court decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ekandjo further noted that Article 44 of the Constitution grants powers to the National Assembly to pass laws, and not any other body. “It is this August House that guards the moral and cultural values of the nation. Permitting the Supreme Court decision to prevail is against the character of the representative nature of this house,” Ekandjo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MP further argued that any human being knows that the male sex organ is a penis and for a woman, it is a vagina. He added that any human being who thinks that an anus is a sex organ is a candidate for psychiatric evaluation and is offering themselves up for withdrawal from society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ekandjo explained that the Private Members Bill intends to amend the Marriage Act, Act 25 of 1961, to define the terms “marriage” and “spouse,” prohibit same-sex marriages, and the solemnization of same-sex marriages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the current act allows scope for judges to misinterpret the intentions of lawmakers and the founding fathers of the Namibian Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ekandjo further stressed that the Supreme Court judges should have been aware that no human being with common sense would prohibit an act here and allow it when imported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the judgment was a calculated move to allow those who want to engage in satanic acts to lodge court cases on the basis of discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ekandjo warned the Supreme Court judges that they are not above Parliament, as it is the only body elected by the people. He stated that Parliament cannot allow itself to be insulted by the judiciary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the Speaker of the National Assembly objected to this sentiment and requested that Ekandjo withdraw his statement, stating that the judiciary is insulting Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before withdrawing his statement, Ekandjo pushed for the judiciary to declare their interests in the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Ekandjo shared that the Private Members Bill will take at least six months, if not longer, to complete in the administrative process, and there may be a likely conflict of interest arising in the chain of implementation. He added that this may delay or altogether hinder the finalization of the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minister of Agriculture, Calle Schlettwein, objected to the bill, stating that it needs to be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office to safeguard the Namibian Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, Swapo MP Eveikko Nekundi explained that Parliament is not obligated to follow the Attorney General’s guidance, as the AG merely represents the state in legal matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the bill, Swapo SG Sophia Shaningwa expressed gratitude towards Ekandjo for tabling the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Comrade Jerry Ekandjo has spoken on behalf of the Namibian people. Through comrade Jerry Ekandjo, the Namibian people have found relief, and today they can rest peacefully,” Shaningwa said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Staff Reporter VETERAN Swapo leader and nominated backbencher, Jerry Ekandjo, made history in Parliament by introducing a Private Members Bill that seeks to outlaw same-sex marriages in Namibia. Astonishingly, Ekandjo introduced the second reading of the bills that he cannot vote on, as he is a non-voting member of the National Assembly. Introducing the Bill, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":343744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-343743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-breaking-news","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n