IPC slams ‘unilateral’ postponement of parliament sitting, demands explanation from speaker

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) says the party is disappointed about the postponement of parliamentary sittings from 1 to 8 April.

Party spokesperson Imms Nashinge has described the decision as unilateral.

“The IPC expresses deep concern over the unilateral decision by speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila to postpone today’s parliamentary sitting, which was set to deliberate on the critical expropriation bill, without citing any valid standing rule or consulting the chief whips of other opposition political parties,” he said on Wednesday.

The NA issued a statement yesterday announcing the postponement without providing reasons.

Nashinge said the abrupt postponement follows the failure of the Ministry of Finance and Social Grants Management to provide members of parliament with hard copies of the budget on time.

“Shockingly, the speaker ignored a prior proposal by the IPC chief whip for 8 April, only to later accept an adjournment motion from a Swapo backbencher, Tobie Aupindi,” he said.

Nashinge said the speaker’s disregard for established parliamentary procedures and exclusion of opposition voices in decision-making reflects a troubling pattern of undermining accountability and transparency.

“Parliament must not be held hostage by executive incompetence or partisan maneuvering,” he said.

He said the IPC sought an immediate explanation from the speaker on the rule invoked for this postponement, and a commitment that future sittings would not be arbitrarily delayed without cross-party consultation as provided for in the standing rules.

Nashinge demanded urgent action by the finance ministry to comply with the procedures of the parliament.

The speaker has failed to respond to these questions and requests, he said.