ECN chairperson nomination hits quorum wall

The nomination of Gerson Sindano as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) was again stalled on Tuesday, after the National Assembly failed to reach the required quorum to decide on his appointment.

In June, a motion was tabled to nominate Sindano to be appointed by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the ECN job.

Only 45 members of parliament (MPs) supported the nomination when speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila called for a vote on Tuesday, falling short of the 49 votes required for a decision.

The deadlock follows on opposition MPs walking out of the National Assembly chamber in protest against Sindano’s nomination – a position they have maintained since the parliament went into recess in June.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila reminded MPs that without the required decision-making quorum, no ruling could be made and the matter would have to be revisited.

Justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel criticised the opposition walkout, describing it as a “mischievous” tactic that undermines the voting process.

“Anyone walking out at the point of voting is distorting a quorum and it is not a genuine absence of a quorum,” Immanuel said.

He said the parliament needed to make a decision on the nomination, and warned that continued delays could frustrate the legislative process.

“When I am defeated democratically, I must accept it,” he said.

Deputy speaker Phillipus Katamelo, however, defended MPs’ right to leave the chamber, saying the assembly’s standing rules do not prevent members from doing so.

“There is no law that is rigged, meaning it gives the opportunity for the other MPs to leave,” Katamelo said.

MPs Marius Sheya and Willem Amutenya argued that, under the standing rules, when there is no quorum the speaker should adjourn proceedings until the following day.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila clarified that the rule applies only to a matter requiring a decision-making quorum, while other parliamentary business that does not require such a quorum can proceed.

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