PAP appointments trigger legal action by AR
Allexer Namundjembo
The Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) has taken legal steps against the appointment of three Members of Parliament to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), alleging that the process was unconstitutional and violated parliamentary procedures.
In a letter addressed to the National Assembly, AR’s legal representative Norman Tjombe demanded official records and minutes related to the nomination of Phillipus Katamelo, Uahekua Herunga, and Rodney Cloete, who were recently named as Namibia’s representatives to the PAP.
“The National Assembly did not consider or resolve to designate the said members to the Pan-African Parliament,” Tjombe wrote, calling the appointments “unlawful and procedurally flawed.”
The AR maintains that the appointments were made without the involvement of the standing rules orders and internal administration committee, which is mandated to recommend parliamentary representatives to international institutions.
The movement argues that this omission renders the designations invalid.
AR parliamentary chief Whip Tuhafeni Hangula reinforced this position in a strongly worded letter to the secretary of the National Assembly.
“We have made it clear, both in the Chambers and through correspondence, that we will not allow, nor be subjected to, an incompetent and corrupt Parliament and parliamentary processes,” Hangula said.
Referring to an internal memorandum dated 19 May, Hangula pointed out that the National Assembly acknowledged that the committee responsible for international nominations had not yet concluded its work.
The memorandum indicated that a meeting to finalise international representation was scheduled for 9 July 2025, but it never occurred.
“Despite this, we were shocked to see a public announcement stating that Honourable Katamelo, Herunga and Cloete had been designated as Namibia’s PAP members,” Hangula said. “These individuals have since travelled to South Africa to be sworn in, knowing full well that they were never lawfully nominated.”
He insisted that no resolution was passed in the National Assembly and no standing committee meeting had taken place to approve the designations.
“This is not only corrupt, but a gross misrepresentation and misleading of the Namibian people and the people of Africa,” Hangula said.
He argued that the move violates the Protocol to the Pan-African Parliament, especially Article 4, which outlines how members must be selected.
“We are guided only by the Constitution, public interest, and our conscience,” Hangula said.
Citing Section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Hangula warned that “a public official commits an offence by using their office and position for the gratification of another person. In this case, these elements have been met without debate.”
The AR has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the appointments, a halt to the swearing-in of the three MPs, and a public apology. However, Katamelo, Herunga, and Cloete were sworn in earlier this week despite the protest.
“We are resolute in ensuring that the Parliament of the people of Namibia does not degenerate into organised corruption or become a theatre of illegalities,” Hangula said.
The AR expects a formal response from the National Assembly and has signalled that if the matter is unresolved, more legal action will follow.
However, on his social media, former member of parliament Hidipo Hamata said that parliament is breaking its own rules.
“I genuinely cannot understand how a respected legislative house like the National Assembly is now being dragged to court for violating the very laws it is meant to uphold”, he said.
He also added that parliament should be a place of trust where laws are made to serve the people who elected its members. Instead, it is becoming a symbol of dishonesty and corruption.
“This is deeply unacceptable and unbecoming of a democratic institution” Hamata said.
