Parliament Journal Journal Publication of the Parliament of Namibia - Vol.6 No.2, May - August 2008 Vol.6 No.2, May - August 2008 Parliament Entrance to the 58-seat National Assembly of Zambia Journal Part of the Chamber of the National Assembly of Zambia Vol.6 No.2, May - August 2008 Parliament Publication of the Parliament of Namibia - Vol.6 No., May - August 008 The opinions expressed in the Parliament From the editor .............................................. Journal do not necessarily represent the official 4 view point or policy of the Parliament of Gurirab Intensifies Campaign for Namibia. IPU Presidency................................................5 Editorial Board Liberian President Addresses Editors: Fanuel Katshenye Namibian Parliament .........................................6 Tjiuai Kaambo Members: Elsie Nghikembua The Life of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf ........................8 Vincent Mwange Joseph Motinga Internal Stakeholders Endorse NC David Nahogandja Strategic Plan ..............................................0 Staff writers: Ambrosius Amutenja Governor Urges MPs to Influence Policies on Shelter....................................... Photography: Ambrosius Amutenja Civil Servants Commemorate Africa Public Service Day....................................... Layout: John Meinert Printing Committee Hails Success of Gender Printing: John Meinert Printing Budgeting Workshop ..................................4 Parliament Journal is published three times National Council Staff Visit annually – April, August and December - by Parliament of Zambia the Research and Information Division of the ..................................6 Parliament of Namibia. Contents Zambian School Visits The Journal welcomes written contributions Parliament ...................................................7 of between 500 and 000 words from Parliamentarians, individual researchers or Parliament Exhibition Stand groups with expertise on Parliamentary issues. Tops Ranking ..............................................8 The editors reserve the right to edit or abridge contributions for clarity and style. Training Produces Peer Educators............... Please send your written contributions and 8 enquiries to the Editor, Parliament Journal, Love Street, Private Bag 7 / , Windhoek, Namibia; Tel. 64 6 0 8000 / 64 6 889; From the Chambers ....................................8 Fax 64 6 6 / 64 6 687. Access Parliament of Namibia at: School Development Funds www.parliament.gov.na Under Attack ..............................................9 You may also e-mail your contributions to [email protected] or t.kaambo@ Bill Watch ...................................................0 parliament.gov.na, accompanied by appropriate photo(s) where possible. Staff on the Move ........................................ Obituary ..................................................... The Pan-African Parliament: A brief overview.......................................... Namibian Participation in the Pan African Parliament ................................5 Cover photo: SADC MPs Discuss Liberian President Johnson-Sirleaf being Energy Crisis ................................................ welcomed to Parliament by Chairman of the 6 National Council, Hon. Asser Kapere and by Konrad Adenauer Foundation the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Tel: 06- 5568 Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab. P.O. Box 45 Journal Photo courtesy of Die Republikein. Windhoek [email protected] A partner of the Parliament of Namibia www.kas.de/namibia Vol.6 No.2, May - August 2008 Parliament 4 EditorFrom the Parliament Journal has extensively covered in this edition the visits undertaken by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, to various countries in Africa and beyond. The main aim of the visits is to campaign for the Presidency of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) up for grabs in October this year. This campaign is almost nearing an end. It is my wish and that of all Namibian compatriots for our Speaker to succeed in being elected to this important global parliamentary position. My wish is not for Speaker Gurirab to be elected merely for the sake of it, it is because of his track record of competency to do the job. He has stood the test of time through a series of diplomatic, ministerial and parliamentary postings in the span of his career. The trust that Dr. Gurirab has earned from the majority of Namibians has also been affirmed by many in Africa. The African Parliamentary Union (APU) has endorsed him as the sole candidate from the continent. To prove Africa’s support for and the competency that Dr. Gurirab takes to the IPU presidency, the following recognitions are worth citing: he has been nominated and endorsed by the Executive Committee of the rd SADC Parliamentary Forum Plenary Assembly in June 007 in Windhoek; endorsed by the IPU Africa Group in October 007 in Geneva; endorsed by Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in February this year; endorsed by the IPU GRULAC Group at the 8th IPU Assembly in Cape Town in April this year. Besides that, he has received a series of verbal and written messages of support from the broader membership of the IPU. Dr. Gurirab’s vast wealth of experience stemmed from the various influential positions that he had occupied as SWAPO Associate Representative to the UN and the Americas from 960 to 96; Head of SWAPO Mission to the UN from 97 to 986; Member of the Namibian Parliament since 990; Minister of Foreign Affairs from 990 to 00; Prime Minister from 00 to 005; and Speaker of the National Assembly since 005 to date. Dr. Gurirab also served as the President of the UN General Assembly from September 999 to September 00. There is no doubt that Dr. Gurirab is imbued with the required skills in handling national and international parliamentary issues. And this tells where his capability fits into being at the helm of the IPU whose objectives are to strengthen parliaments as democratic institutions, audit parliaments, provide technical assistance and advice, undertake research, and develop standards and guidelines. Dr. Gurirab himself stresses: “I believe that globalization, multilateral negotiations, global warming and peace building efforts must be people-centred and inclusive towards the realization of world peace and security, democratic ideals, respect for human rights and eradication of poverty in the world.” I would like therefore to appeal to fellow Namibian compatriots from all walks of life to rally behind Dr. Gurirab’s campaign for election as head of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and, hence, for him to be able to contribute effectively towards his democratic ideals. Journal Vol.6 No.2, May - August 2008 Parliament 5 GURIRAB INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN FOR IPU PRESIDENCY The Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab has participated in a seminar of the African Parliamentary Union (APU) hosted in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in Rabat, Morocco. The seminar, under the theme “Africa and Migration: Challenges, Problems and Solutions”, was held from to 4 May 008. Dr. Gurirab addressing the National People’s Assembly of Venezuela Prior to the seminar, Dr. Gurirab, campaigning for the presidency of the (Union of South Americans) to who strongly supports Dr. Gurirab’s IPU, met with the President of the strengthen relations between Africa candidacy for the IPU presidency, Moroccan House of Representatives and South America. Venezuela is aiming requested the support of Namibia and Mr. Mustapha Mansouri for bilateral at cooperating with African countries Africa for Venezuela to host the nd discussions. The two Presiding in the energy, food, communication IPU Assembly in Venezuela in 00. At Officers expressed mutual desire to and health sectors, by the year 00. the conclusion of his visit there, Dr. promote bilateral ties between the A summit of African and South Gurirab had the opportunity to address two countries in socio-economic and American political leaders is planned the unicameral National Assembly of at diplomatic levels. for November 008 in Venezuela. Venezuela. He also presented a lecture on the “Political Outlook of Africa” at At parliamentary level, the two In a televised interview in Venezuela, the Bolivarian University of Venezuela Presiding Officers reflected on the Dr. Gurirab pledged that, if elected (UBV). need to establish a parliamentary President of the IPU, he would friendship group between the two promote the fostering of South-South From Venezuela, Dr. Gurirab countries. The APU endorsed the cooperation; address the issues of proceeded to Cuba for discussions with nomination of Dr. Gurirab as candidate for the IPU presidency, a move that globalisation, poverty, unfair trade the President of the National Assembly Morocco supports. Speaker Gurirab rules; and strengthen the parliamentary of the People’s Power, Deputy Ricardo thanked Morocco for the support. dimension at the United Nations. Alarcon de Quesada. Dr. Gurirab also held separate meetings with the First From Morocco, the Speaker’s Dr. Gurirab and his delegation also Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, delegation headed for Caracas, the met with parliamentarians from the Mr Bruno Rodriguez; Deputy Esteban Venezuelan capital, on a campaign visit Latino-American Parliament. Their Lazo, a member of the Politburo of that lasted from 5 to 0 May 008. discussions centred on the Pan- the Communist Party of Cuba and Here, Speaker Gurirab had a closed- African Parliament-Latino-American Vice