Six non-voting MPs appointed

President Pohamba has appointed six extra non-voting members to the National Assembly. In total, 67 MPs were sworn in on Friday March 19, although RDP (8), DTA (2) and Republican Party (1) MPs boycotted the ceremony as the dispute over the election results is still to be heard in the Supreme Court. The six are appointed for their special ‘expertise, status, skill or experience’ according to the Constitution (Article 46). The six are:

Calle Schlettwein – Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance

Peter Katjavivi – Former Director General of National Planning Commission

Stanley Simataa – Former Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education

Maureen Jankowski – Former coordinator of pre-primary education in the Hardap region.

Sophia Swartz – Former Catholic AIDS Action Coordinator in Karasburg

Agnes Tjongarero – Former President of the Namibia National Olympic Committee