BUSINESS in the National Assembly continued at snail's pace yesterday with an appeal for free AIDS drugs and a bill aimed at revamping Agribank dominating the floor.

With the HIV-AIDS pandemic having cost the Namibian economy an estimated N$8 billion between 1998 and 2001, Congress of Democrats (CoD) MP Rosa Namises called for urgent action to address the situation.

She urged Government to make anti-retroviral drugs available to every HIV-positive pregnant mother in the country as an "urgent priority".

Nangolo Mbumba, the Finance Minister, introduced draft legislation to fully commercialise Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank).

"A new governance framework was designed, with the purpose to clarify that Government is responsible for designing policy and that Agribank board accept full responsibility for implementing those policies," he said.

Mbumba said while the line between policy and implementation was sometimes vague, the independence of the board of directors was a prerequisite for successful functioning of the bank.

He said care was taken to ensure that the members appointed to the bank's board have the necessary skills and competency to serve the interest of Agribank and those of the country.

"In line with good governance, it was also decided to split the responsibilities of the Chief Executive officer from those of the Chairperson of the board for directors," Mbumba said.

The House adjourned for the day at tea break.