Parliament in brief

The National Assembly (NA) resumed last week after a month-long break.

During the first week of the resumed session, members of the executive responded to questions from opposition members of parliament (MPs).

Several opposition MPs also gave notice of questions to Cabinet ministers, which are scheduled to be answered on Thursday.

Update on Agribusdev employees

Minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein told the parliament last week the former Agricultural Business Development (Agribusdev) employees are currently acting as a support team to the directorate of agricultural production, extension, and engineering services.

He said this is a temporary arrangement while the absorption process is being finalised. He said the ministry has allocated a budget to cater for the more than 20 employees.

Schlettwein said Agribusdev will be dissolved and employees will be integrated into the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform. “The ministry is in the process of absorbing 32 staff members of Agribusdev, including all staff members of agronomic and engineering services,” he said. He was responding to questions about the status of Agribusdev by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) MP Jennifer van den Heever.

Land grabbing at Okakarara

Minister of urban and rural development Erastus Utoni said land grabbing in the Okakarara constituency was caused by discontent over a lack of land.

While responding to Inna Hengari of the PDM on an incident which took place two months ago, Uutoni said it shows people care more about land to live on, regardless of whether there is water, sewerage services, or electricity.

The minister said the slow allocation of land is due to the unavailability of serviced land and funds to provide the needed services.

Rent control bill

PDM MP Maximalliant Katjimune asked Uutoni why he was taking so long to bring the rent control bill to the parliament. Katjimune said the majority of the working class has become victims of exorbitant rent prices due to the unaffordability of houses and a scarcity of residential land.

He said this crisis ought to be resolved by the proposed bill, which is earmarked to establish a rent control board to regulate rent prices.

“It does appear however, for reasons known only to himself, that the minister has been dragging his feet in bringing this crucial piece of legislation, which would bring relief to tenants across the country, to the parliament for debate,” said Katjimune.

Capital outflow

Kennedy Shekupakela of the All’s People Party (APP) has asked minister of finance Iipumbu Shiimi if there are any mechanisms in place to stem the trend of investors shipping money out the country.

Shikupakela noted a serious trend of investors taking large amounts of money out of the country, leaving Namibia with no money to grow the economy and create more job opportunities for the unemployed.

The APP MP also asked Schlettwein how long Namibian farmers would be allowed to graze their livestock in Angola.

He said farmers are forced to take their animals into southern Angola in search of better pasture. He therefore asked when the government would provide farmers with suitable land to graze their animals inside the country.

• Compiled by Andreas Thomas