Africa-Press – Namibia. National Council (NC) chairperson Lukas Sinimbo Muha has urged members of the 7th National Council to strengthen their role in promoting inclusive development and participatory democracy as they carry out their constitutional duties.
He made these remarks at the official opening of the five-day induction and orientation seminar for members of the 7th NC of the 8th Parliament underway in Swakopmund.
The event started on Monday.
The second phase of the workshop is taking place under the theme ‘Enhancing the Role of Parliament for Inclusive Development and Participatory Democracy’.
It serves as an opportunity for lawmakers to reaffirm their commitment to the principles according to the Namibian Constitution.
Addressing the members, Muha said inclusive development must remain a central priority for all parliamentarians to ensure that all Namibians, regardless of their region or background, are able to participate in and benefit from the country’s progress.
“We are the people’s representative body and have a responsibility to ensure that laws, policies and national budgets reflect the diverse realities and aspirations of communities across the country. Inclusive development is not a mere aspiration. It is a constitutional imperative,” Muha said.
He highlighted the importance of participatory democracy, describing it as a continuous process that requires active engagement between elected representatives and citizens.
“Participatory democracy is not an event but a continuous dialogue,” he said.
He added: “As members of Parliament, we are called upon to listen attentively to the voices of our people and incorporate their perspectives into the decisions that shape their lives”.
He continued: “This system of checks and balances strengthens our democracy, fosters inclusivity and upholds the integrity of our legislative process”.
He added that the NC serves as an important bridge between the country’s regions and the central government by ensuring that regional priorities are considered during the legislative process.
During the sixth NC, standing committees conducted oversight missions across various regions to assess issues such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, social welfare and security.
“These missions resulted in actionable recommendations for implementation by relevant offices, ministries and agencies,” he said.
Details of the work undertaken by the previous council are documented in the National Council Legacy Report for the 2020-2025 period.
Meanwhile, deputy speaker of the National Assembly Phillipus Katamelo, who also addressed the seminar, said NC members play a demanding role and must be prepared to hold the executive accountable.
Katamelo, who described himself as a “product of the National Council”, said the responsibilities of regional councillors are often underestimated despite the demanding nature of the work.
“Your job was never to make the budget. Your job is to hold those who formulated the budget accountable for what they said they would do,” he said.
Katamelo stressed the importance of accountability in addressing issues such as corruption and illegal activities, including illegal mining in some regions.
“If we say we want to fight corruption, then there must be clear legislative measures to hold those responsible accountable,” he said.
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