6 MONDAY 18 MARCH 2013 NATIONAL NEWS THE NAMIBIAN Hugo Chavez’s death inspires budget debate t30."/64,0/+03& THE death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez earlier this month seems to have reignited the spirit of socialism in Namibian parliamentarians. The budget debate in the National As- sembly for the past two weeks has been spiced with socialist ideology and lessons to be drawn from it. Many of the country’s parliamentarians, especially those who spent their youth in exile, studied in socialist countries such as Cuba and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). All People’s Party (APP) President Igna- %"(#3&&,3&$:$-&4 ... The First National tius Shixwameni and Justice Minister Utoni Bank and Global United over the weekend Nujoma were the main protagonists, joined Utoni Nujoma Ignatius Shixwameni handed over a recycling station to the Dagbreek by the likes of Deputy Minister of Defence Special School in Klein Windhoek as part of a Peter Iilonga and the Deputy Minister of nationwide project to encourage recycling at Justice Tommy Nambahu. socialist at heart, the negotiated peace set- Iilonga expounded how China, a com- Shixwameni last week Wednesday said it tlement that culminated in a compromise munist country, bailed out the United States is not enough for Swapo parliamentarians Constitution did not leave the Namibian gov- of America at the height of the global eco- to hail Chavez but they should emulate his ernment much room to implement socialist nomic meltdown because communists and actions with deeds. principles. Namibia is at best described as socialists do not have personal interests at “You need to act in a determined way. a mixed or open economy. heart but those of humanity. The State must be ready to take action in Shixwameni warned that people should “Even though the Americans regard them Nam, SA, Angola the best interest of the people without fear not hide behind the Constitution as it is not as [the] enemy, the Chinese bailed them out of any so-called imperialists or capitalists,” cast in stone but can be amended if it does when they were in trouble,” he told Lucks, sign enviro accord he said before taking a swipe at Swapo MPs, not serve the people of the country. who he said is still too young to understand saying most of them were rich capitalists. Not to be outdone, Iilonga, wearing his the intricacies of global politics. TODAY the governments of Namibia, Angola “Act in the manner of Chavistas,” he advised. trademark beret favoured by Ché Guevara, Various other MPs interjected during the and South Africa will sign a groundbreaking Nujoma could not let Shixwameni’s jibe took time to lecture Rally for Democracy debate, providing lighter moments in the environmental treaty in the Angolan city of go unchallenged. and Progress (RDP) MP Heicko Lucks on often sombre legislative House with well- Benguela. He said although many Swapo MPs are the workings of socialism on Thursday. aimed political jabs. The Benguela Current Convention is a formal agreement between the three governments that seeks to bring long-term social and economic bene!ts. The agreement takes its name from the Benguela Current – the cold ocean current Farmworkers union staff out in cold along the coasts of all three countries. The current also de!nes the boundaries of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem t$"5)&3*/& mended that the three wilful removal of materi- union’s !nancial records until the end of May. 4"4."/ employees be dismissed. al, equipment or property to the new leadership of What is also questioned (BCLME), an area of ocean stretching from They have yet to receive without authorisation”, the union. is the position of Nafwu Port Elizabeth in South Africa to the province AFTER the Namibia their letters of dismissal. “revealing con!dential Another matter alleg- president De Jongh. It is of Cabinda in the north of Angola. The BCLME Farmworkers Union Their suspension in information to any un- edly being investigated understood that De Jongh is regarded as one of the richest ecosystems on (Nafwu) failed to rein- February came after they authorised person”, and by the Belgian donors is currently unemployed earth, providing goods and services estimated state three dismissed staff were alleged to have “gross insubordination”. is deductions recorded and not a paid-up member to be worth at least N$497 billion per year. Off- members in early January, shared con!dential con- The sources claimed as contributions to the of the union. shore oil and gas production, marine diamond it has gone ahead and tents of a yellow !le with that the real reason for Social Security Commis- According to the un- mining, coastal tourism, commercial !shing suspended its remaining a third person on February the suspensions was be- sion (SSC) while none of ion’s constitution, only and shipping are some of the most important three employees, with 1. Upon their suspension, cause the acting secretary the Nafwu workers were those employed in the industrial activities in the region. a disciplinary hearing they were also instructed general of the National registered with the SSC. sector and paid-up union By signing the Benguela Current Conven- recommending that the to vacate the union’s Union of Namibian What also remains un- members are eligible to tion, Angola, Namibia and South Africa agree remaining staff be dis- premises, which they Workers (NUNW) and clear at this stage, insiders occupy executive leader- to manage the BCLME in a cooperative and missed. reportedly refused to do. former general secretary said, is Angula’s current ship positions in the union. sustainable way for the bene!t of coastal people Staff members Roco Sources said the reasons of Nafwu, Alfred An- position at the union. De Jongh allegedly who depend on the ecosystem for food, work Nguvauva, Gweneth Phil- for the suspension only gula, had accused staff Although an amended was not a formal delegate and well-being. lips and Moses Kativa came after the suspensions of leaking information version of the congress to the union’s August The convention will also establish the Ben- were suspended by the were enforced. The formal on the union’s !nances resolutions have yet to congress, but nonethe- guela Current Commission (BCC) as a perma- union’s executive com- charges laid against the to its Belgium donors, be registered with the less ended up at the nent inter-governmental organisation with a mittee presided over by workers are “sabotage/de- the non-governmental Labour Commission, and congress because she mandate to promote the long-term conserva- the recently elected union liberate abuse of company organisation FOS. although the outcome of was asked to transport tion, protection, rehabilitation, enhancement president, Ronel de Jongh. property”, “committing According to the the congress has not yet delegates to the said and sustainable use of the BCLME. A subsequent disci- a criminal offence at the sources, the Belgium been made public, insid- congress. By working through the commission, the plinary hearing held on union of!ce whilst on sus- donors are “up in arms” ers say Angula was not Questions are now three governments will strive to ensure that March 5 and 6 recom- pension”, “malicious and over the manner in which re-elected as the union’s raised over the jurisdic- industrial development progresses in an en- the union’s !nances have general secretary. tion of the executive vironmentally responsible manner and that been used. Sources said those committee meeting that they work together to minimise pollution, “Angula thinks people elected to leadership suspended the Nafwu harmonise maritime policies, laws and regula- in the office revealed positions were now sus- workers. tions, and monitor and manage !sheries in a information to the do- pended/dismissed Kativa Two weeks ago at a nors, but he has not been (general secretary), Roco national office bearers cooperative way. able to provide proof,” a Nguvauva (deputy gener- meeting of the NUNW, At the heart of the convention is the concept of source said. al secretary), and Jacque- its president Connie Pan- the ecosystem approach: a long-term approach The donors are re- line Phillips (treasurer). deni reportedly advised that aims to maintain ecosystem goods and portedly investigating According to the Angula to recuse himself services for sustainable use, while recognising claims made for three sources, the congress from Nafwu of!ce affairs, that humans are an integral part of the process. workshops said to have resolved that Nguvauva but this request has appar- “The historic signing of the convention been held at the Na- would act as the general ently fallen on deaf ears. represents the culmination of many years of mibia Public Workers’ secretary while Angula Neither Angula nor De research, consultation and negotiation, all of Union guesthouse in “grooms” Kativa as gen- Jongh could be reached which have been carried out in a spirit of trust Windhoek’s southern eral secretary. for comment since last and cooperation,” said Hashali Hamukuaya, industrial area. These Angula was reportedly week Thursday, but un- executive secretary of the BCC. workshops allegedly did supposed to hand over ion staff – suspended or “The signing of this unique multilateral not take place. the !nancial records to dismissed – expressed agreement is the next logical step after nearly The sources also ques- the new leadership at the concern that union ac- two decades of collaboration between Angola, tioned why Angula has end of February, and is tivities have come to a Namibia and South Africa.” not yet handed over the supposed to train Kativa standstill. .