By: Rodney Pienaar
Chairperson of the National Council, Margaret Mensah-Williams has confirmed that the Constituency Development Fund Bill as one of those to be tabled during the current session of parliament.
The bill is projected to continue the implementation of the decentralisation process of Namibia’s democracy.
“Once the bill becomes law, I believe it will further enhance the objectives of Decentralisation Policy by giving each one of the 121 constituencies more resources to bring about socio-economic development to the rural areas, thereby reducing the rampant rural to urban migration we have been experiencing,” she said.
Geingob noted that Namibia, being a member of the African Union, should adhere to continental integration, including the opening of the airways for trade.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee of the National Council on Regional Development and reports held consultative meetings in the regions on the proposed bill on the establishment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and proposed amendments on the Regional Council Act 22 of 1992.
“The Standing Committee tabled the report on the establishment of Constituency Development Fund on 18 February 2014 in the National Council Chamber. The report was adopted by the house on 19 February 2014. The main objective of the report and the proposed bill is to financially assist the development of the 14 regions in Namibia.”
“The report recommends that the National Council Legal Division should draft a bill on Constituency Development Fund and also propose amendments on the Regional Councils Act 22 of 1992 to include and legalize Regional Development Coordinating Committees and Constituency Development Committees,” Mensah- Williams said.
