   |
|
Misanet.com / The Namibian, 3 June - National Councillor Mburumba Kerina of the opposition party Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia (DTA) says a proposal that the next local and regional elections - in 2003 - be held simultaneously violates the Constitution. It would also include irrational extra costs. - Why is our Minister [of Regional, Local Government and Housing] trying to make a mockery of our Constitution and to turn it into a washing cloth? asked Kerina. "The responsibility of all of us as elected officials is to protect the Constitution and to provide for good governance and justice for all Namibians," Kerina argued during debate on the Ministry's budget in the National Council on Thursday. He urged MPs to protect the Constitution from "political mutilation". Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing, Dr Nickey Iyambo, proposed last month that the term of office of regional councillors elected next year be cut to three years. This would lead to a space of two years between the national elections and regional and local authority elections. Kerina said such changes would necessitate Constitutional amendments because National Councillors were expected to be in office for six years. MP Generosa Andowa of the ruling party Swapo said Iyambo's proposal had caught them by surprise. She bemoaned the lack of consultation with Regional Councillors. Andowa said although Government wanted to avoid voter fatigue and cut down on costs, it was not appropriate for MPs to learn about their future in the media. "I am now confused and [have] developed a fear," she said, without elaborating on what fears she had. She later expressed concern about "our future in terms of bread and butter". The next local authority elections are scheduled for February 2003 while the Regional Council elections are supposed to be held in December 2004, together with the National and Presidential elections. Iyambo said grouping the elections together would cut Government expenses and election fatigue. Political parties have agreed to the new schedule. Under the new proposal, Local and Regional Council elections will take place next year, in 2006, and thereafter every five years. Presidential elections will be held in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. Iyambo said Regional Councillors who did not get re-elected in next year's elections would be financially compensated because they were originally elected to be in office until December 2004. Said Andowa: "Dishing out money to pay all 13 Regional Councillors for a year they never worked would be equal to misuse of taxpayers' money". Iyambo also called on groups, such as Women's Manifesto, that campaign for 50-50 representation to demand a "zebra-crossing method" from their political parties. The zebra-crossing method means men and women must be alternated on party lists to bring about gender balance. By Christof Maletsky, The Namibian
|
