No quorum stalls Swapo defence debate

SWAPO is pulling out all the stops to blow its own trumpet in Parliament after the resignation of one of its most prominent leaders, Hidipo Hamutenya.

Members of Parliament belonging to the ruling party used every opportunity in the House yesterday to tell the opposition that they brought about democracy, peace, reform and prosperity. Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila rose on a motion tabled by the DTA to reform election laws so that party election agents should be paid by Government, and so that opposition parties could also observe polling at all polling stations, which they could not do up to now due to a lack of funds.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said opposition parties received Government funding for each seat in Parliament and if they had only a few seats, it was because they did not garner more votes.”The voters have confidence in Swapo, they know and trust Swapo,” she said.”If you are so confident, why then the breakaway of Swapo members to form the new party RDP (Rally for Democracy and Progress)?” Elma Dienda of the CoD asked.”Those who break away can do so, they will go the way of all opposition parties,” the Finance Minister quipped.Just as the debate within the debate was about to heat up, Dienda rose and alerted the Speaker that there was no quorum.Only 33 of the required 37 voting MPs were still in the Chamber, despite an earlier announcement that the session would last longer than usual.This was done so that all debates could be wrapped up by November 22 instead of November 27.Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila rose on a motion tabled by the DTA to reform election laws so that party election agents should be paid by Government, and so that opposition parties could also observe polling at all polling stations, which they could not do up to now due to a lack of funds.Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said opposition parties received Government funding for each seat in Parliament and if they had only a few seats, it was because they did not garner more votes.”The voters have confidence in Swapo, they know and trust Swapo,” she said.”If you are so confident, why then the breakaway of Swapo members to form the new party RDP (Rally for Democracy and Progress)?” Elma Dienda of the CoD asked.”Those who break away can do so, they will go the way of all opposition parties,” the Finance Minister quipped.Just as the debate within the debate was about to heat up, Dienda rose and alerted the Speaker that there was no quorum.Only 33 of the required 37 voting MPs were still in the Chamber, despite an earlier announcement that the session would last longer than usual.This was done so that all debates could be wrapped up by November 22 instead of November 27.