DTA of Namibia President Katuutire Kaura complained that discussions in Parliament are dominated by members of the Executive in the National Assembly, with ordinary members having "no space" to speak.

He raised this objection during the discussion of the Memorandum of Understanding between Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the development and management of the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lumumbashi development last Wednesday in Parliament.

"The ministers are the ones speaking on it when it comes from the Executive," he complained, adding that Prime Minister Nahas Angula should "start listening".

On a suggestion from Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab that Kaura should properly use the communications system in Parliament to register his desire to speak, Kaura hit back that it was not a matter of technology.

"Those who bring these issues to Parliament are the ones who are debating on them instead of us [ordinary members]," countered Kaura.

Ambassador Eddie Amkongo has started a debate in which he argued for the separation of powers of the Executive and National Assembly.

This view was also supported by Namright's Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh who pointed out that although Article 35 of the Namibian Constitution stipulates that the President appoints Cabinet ministers from among Members of Parliament, an MP ceases to be an MP after he or she had been appointed as a Cabinet minister.

He stated that Namibia's political system with its clearly demarcated separation of powers as well as checks and balances guarantees Parliamentary independence from and sovereignty over the executive branch of government.

Ya Nangoloh said in terms of provisions in the constitution, the executive branch is responsible, accountable and reporting to the legislative branch.

"Hence, in terms of those provisions, it becomes increasingly clear that a Cabinet minister, on the one hand, and a Member of Parliament on the other hand, cannot and should not be the same person. So, the logical conclusion one can make there from is that Cabinet ministers may occasionally attend the meetings of Parliament, including meetings of Parliamentary committees, but only for the purposes of any queries from, and reporting and accountability to, Members of Parliament," argued ya Nangoloh. He suggested that the Attorney General to refer this matter to the Supreme Court "with the view to protect and uphold the independence of the legislative branch from, and its sovereignty, over the executive branch of government".

"Namibia cannot afford to be governed unconstitutionally," said ya Nangoloh.