NEFF accuses Vanaani of tip-toeing around same-sex issue

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu says Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani is attempting to gain political mileage and financial support by avoiding taking a clear position on homosexuality in Namibia.

According to Iipumbu and NEFF, which have publicly expressed their opposition to homosexuality and same-sex marriage, Venaani is trying to cater to both sides of the issue without firmly adopting a clear and principled stance.

“It is evident that his position, which is mired by sophistry, political banter, and empty rhetoric, is aimed at gaining political-funding favour rather than genuinely coming to the unwavering defence of Namibia’s social fabric,” Iipumbu said.

This comes as Venaani yesterday clarified his party’s position, saying that while they do not support same-sex marriages in Namibia, they fully uphold the constitutional human rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and other (LGBTQI+) community.

This stance was adopted during a PDM conference in 2021.

Iipumbu said Venaani’s claims that he is against gay marriage while simultaneously opposing a bill that seeks to protect traditional values and customs is an indication that he has been influenced and possibly bought over by Western powers.

“We strongly believe that Venaani’s actions are driven by motives to sell out the rich traditions, culture, values and Christian religion that form the foundation of Namibia’s identity,” Iipumbu said.

“In 2021, we went to a policy conference and there were divisive views in the party. One view is saying we must give more rights to LGBTQI+ people, other views say we shouldn’t. The policy conference decided that we must protect LGBTQI+ rights so that they are not prosecuted in the country, but we are not going to support the formalisation of their marriages,” Venaani said.

“Even if we do not support the formalisation of gay marriage in the country, disparaging remarks that are being made by politicians are not necessary,” he added.

Venaani emphasised that Namibia should not strive to follow the path of Uganda, which has implemented harsh laws criminalising homosexuality and even enforcing the death penalty for such acts.

“We are not going to allow a situation where we have [Yoweri] Museveni bills in this country. Even if we do not support formalisation of their marriages, we are not going to support a situation where a member of parliament is asking another member of parliament ‘are you a man or a woman’, while you know that person,” Venaani said.

He was referring to when NEFF leader Epafras Mukwiilongo questioned the gender of justice minister Yvonne Dausab in parliament last month.

Venaani also spoke out against two bills recently approved in both the National Assembly and National Council, led by Swapo parliamentarian Jerry Ekandjo, which aim to define marriage as being solely between a woman and a man.

Ekandjo’s bills also aim to criminalise the solemnisation, advocacy and propagation of same-sex marriage.

“We do not support clauses of Jerry [Ekandjo’s] bills that say you want to punish someone who practises that. How are you going to punish someone if he does that in his home?”

Meanwhile, Venaani expressed grave concern regarding the continuous neglect and failure of Namibia’s current policies in safeguarding the rights of minority groups such as the San and /­Khomanin communities.

“The pursuit of equity and inclusion for the San is a fight against time: The bigger the cultural gap grows between modern Namibia and the oldest surviving culture, the more time passes without tangible and impactful solutions to the threats facing the San, the greater the task of creating just solutions for these fellow Namibians.”

Venaani said he will soon table a bill in parliament that seeks to safeguard the rights of these minority groups.