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H.E. Dr Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia opens the 7th Session of the
6th Parliament, Windhoek on 13 February 2017:
I am pleased to be here this afternoon to mark the Opening of the 7th Session of the 6th Parliament under the theme, “Enhancing partnership to strengthen good governance in Namibia.”

As you are aware, the opening of Parliament is a ceremonial event and I will therefore not dwell on a detailed accountability report, which will be comprehensively presented during the State of the Nation Address. I will rather use the opportunity to highlight important aspects of our governance architecture, in line with your theme for the year.

During the official opening of Parliament last year, I briefly introduced the concept of the “trinity”. In the context of Institutions, the “trinity” is reflected in our Executive, Judiciary and Legislature, which operate inter-dependently. I had the honour to open the Legal Year for the Judicidiary on Wednesday last week and the following day I opened the First Executive meeting for the year. Today, it is once again my honour to preside over the opening of the Legislative year.

It is apt that we focus our attention on strengthening good governance, or what I term effective governance. It is of utmost importance that members of this august House pay particular attention to the agenda for the year and ensure that the Bills tabled are thoroughly debated and passed timeously.

During the National Elections just over three years ago, the People of Namibia exercised their democratic right to elect me as the President of the Republic of Namibia and yourselves, as Members of Parliament. We were elected to govern on behalf of the People who, through the voting process, delegated their sovereign power to us. I therefore repeat this important phrase – That we are first and foremost accountable to the People – to serve their interest and not our personal interests.

Our ability to govern effectively will face scrutiny this year and that is why I have declared the year 2018 the Year of Reckoning. We have the responsibility to demonstrate that we are committed to administer the Organs of State - for the People and by the People. Our ability to meet these expectations will face the ultimate judgment in 2019, when the People will either extend our mandate to govern on their behalf, or rescind that mandate by voting us out of office.

Serious work therefore awaits all of us this year, as the Nation will be watching. I am informed that a total of twenty (20) bills are likely to be tabled in Parliament during this year. I have learnt with disappointment that only nineteen (19) Bills were passed, out of the forty (40) Bills tabled during the last session. I look forward to quality debate around these Bills, such as the Education Bill; Plant Breeders and Farmers’ Rights Bill; Financial Institution and Market Bill and Prevention and Combating of Torture Bill, to name but a few.

I expect that this august House, in its deliberations, will keep in mind the Executive theme for the year, that of Reckoning, which includes due recognition for delivery and consequences for non-delivery.

Please click here to open the full speech in a pdf format....

Please click here to open the pdf format of the President's Statement on the occasion of the Opening of the Legal Year 2018...