More questions than answers in Parliament

PAGES of questions posed by opposition parties to Ministers in the National Assembly had to stand over last week because of a lack of preparation.

As is customary, Ministers are given at least a week’s notice that they are expected to provide feedback on questions posed by the opposition, which are usually answered during the Thursday session. Last week, several Ministers “begged the indulgence” of the House for more time to bring the required answers.Among the questions that remain unanswered are those on the botched investment of the Offshore Development Company (ODC).The Congress of Democrats’ (CoD) Nora Schimming-Chase requested details from the Minister of Trade and Industry, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, on October 4, but because he was not in the House last week, his deputy, Bernhardt Esau, asked for more time to prepare the answers.Works Minister Joel Kaapanda also needed an extension – to answer questions by MAG’s Jurie Viljoen about the possible expropriation of properties around the new State House complex.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also did not have the answers to how much of Namibian public funds is invested in national and international financial institutions, as asked by the DTA’s McHenry Venaani.The Minister of Mines and Energy, Erkki Nghimtina, maintained that questions posed by Venaani on Namibia’s involvement in diamond mining in the DRC were misdirected.Nghimtina said that as the Minister he was not empowered to know about mining activities beyond Namibia’s borders.He said his Ministry only dealt with mining rights and thus could not answer questions related to the involvement of the August 26 company, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defence, in mining in the DRC.On a question by the DTA’s Katuutire Kaura about how Government explained what he termed the Swapo “presidential dichotomy” – of former President Sam Nujoma as Swapo President and President Hifikepunye Pohamba as head of state – Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the question was misdirected and that he had no mandate to speak on behalf of Swapo in the National Assembly.The Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, John Pandeni, is still expected to answer questions by Nudo’s Arnold Tjihuiko regarding the recognition of Herero traditional authorities.The unanswered questions stand over until question time this week.Last week, several Ministers “begged the indulgence” of the House for more time to bring the required answers.Among the questions that remain unanswered are those on the botched investment of the Offshore Development Company (ODC).The Congress of Democrats’ (CoD) Nora Schimming-Chase requested details from the Minister of Trade and Industry, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, on October 4, but because he was not in the House last week, his deputy, Bernhardt Esau, asked for more time to prepare the answers.Works Minister Joel Kaapanda also needed an extension – to answer questions by MAG’s Jurie Viljoen about the possible expropriation of properties around the new State House complex.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also did not have the answers to how much of Namibian public funds is invested in national and international financial institutions, as asked by the DTA’s McHenry Venaani.The Minister of Mines and Energy, Erkki Nghimtina, maintained that questions posed by Venaani on Namibia’s involvement in diamond mining in the DRC were misdirected.Nghimtina said that as the Minister he was not empowered to know about mining activities beyond Namibia’s borders.He said his Ministry only dealt with mining rights and thus could not answer questions related to the involvement of the August 26 company, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defence, in mining in the DRC.On a question by the DTA’s Katuutire Kaura about how Government explained what he termed the Swapo “presidential dichotomy” – of former President Sam Nujoma as Swapo President and President Hifikepunye Pohamba as head of state – Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the question was misdirected and that he had no mandate to speak on behalf of Swapo in the National Assembly.The Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, John Pandeni, is still expected to answer questions by Nudo’s Arnold Tjihuiko regarding the recognition of Herero traditional authorities.The unanswered questions stand over until question time this week.