President Nangolo Mbumba rejected Swapo parliamentarian Jerry Ekandjo’s bills aimed at banning same-sex marriage and criminalizing homosexuality due to constitutional concerns and lack of legislative support. Minister Christine //Hoebes detailed these issues in parliament, citing the bills’ procedural inadequacies and potential constitutional implications as decisive factors in the president’s decision.
President Nangolo Mbumba has opted not to endorse the private member’s bills introduced by Swapo parliamentarian Jerry Ekandjo, which aimed to prohibit same-sex marriage and criminalize homosexuality in Namibia. This decision stems from significant constitutional concerns regarding the bills. Minister in the Presidency, Christine //Hoebes, disclosed this information during a parliamentary session, addressing Ekandjo’s request for updates regarding his proposed legislation.
Ekandjo expressed frustration with //Hoebes’ previous absences and accused her of engaging in a ‘cat and mouse’ tactic with respects to his legislative proposals. Despite being passed by the National Assembly, the bills failed to achieve the essential two-thirds majority and posed considerable constitutional challenges, as articulated by //Hoebes during her parliamentary address.
The bills, introduced in 2023, sought to criminalize actions against same-sex marriage, imposing fines of up to N$100,000 or imprisonment of up to six years. Following the transition from former president Hage Geingob to President Mbumba, //Hoebes noted that the new President was apprised of the situation and was urged to reassess the bills to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
While evaluating the bills, President Mbumba expressed concern regarding their adherence to appropriate law-making processes, emphasizing the necessity for them to meet constitutional standards. //Hoebes articulated that the proposed bills did not pass fundamental norms of legislative drafting within the Namibian context, which reinforced the president’s cautious stance.
The president’s refusal to sign the bills is grounded in his apprehensions about their potential constitutional repercussions, given that they had not undergone a necessary constitutionality review prior to being introduced in parliament. This decision aligns with both the intent and provisions of the Namibian Constitution, focusing on legislative integrity and constitutional conformity.
In summary, President Nangolo Mbumba’s rejection of Jerry Ekandjo’s bills on same-sex marriage underscores the importance of constitutional integrity within Namibia’s legislative framework. The lack of a two-thirds majority and the failure to undergo necessary constitutional reviews were significant factors in this decision, which reaffirmed the commitment to uphold constitutional principles in law-making processes. The government’s actions reflect a careful evaluation of the implications associated with altering foundational definitions of marriage and spouse.
Original Source: www.namibian.com.na
