Parly brainchild defends costly building

By Confidente Reporter
FORMER Speaker of the National Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab, has come out strong defending the N$2, 2 billion National Assembly project saying the country needed it as the third branch of state where important decisions are made.
He said that millions of dollars were already spent in the construction of two other state branches namely the new State House, the Supreme Court and thus it was time to put up the third branch – the ambitious new Parliament.
In an interview with Confidente Monday, Gurirab spoke in favour of the costly building against heavy public criticism emphasising that the decision to construct a new parliament was made years ago.
“At independence we inherited old buildings, including the old State House. We spent money on it turning it into what many have come to know as State House. That building (parliament) was used as offices of a German Governor colonial administration that reported to Berlin. It had nothing to do with black people,” Gurirab narrated. and residence of German
Gurirab, who is also the brainchild of the project, explained that at independence the new Government had to make use of the building but as activities increased and they ran out of space, a collective decision was reached to build a new Parliament.
“When I became the second Speaker of the National Assembly, our activities were becoming more regional and international which meant that the house became smaller. Our activities also went beyond borders, we grew in numbers and we ran out of space. So as reasonable people we debated and decided that in future a new Parliament would be built. The public was reached with this plan and it was eventually approved.”
Gurirab stressed that some people have selective criticism saying he does not understand why the same criticism was not directed at the millions spent on the construction of the new State House and the Supreme Court.
“Money is being spent on the new Parliament as it was spent on the new State House and the Supreme Court in the past. Why are people more concerned about this project but were not concerned about the construction of the other two?
“The three branches of state should be housed in proper facilities based on their work. In fact we should have started with the new Parliament first before the new State House and Supreme Court because that’s where decisions are made.”
Gurirab also said that in the United States and Great Britain alike, Parliament is considered the most important branch thus Namibia should treat the matter as such.
“Building’s cost money, paper work cost money. I was for a new Parliament back then and I am certainly for a new Parliament now,” Gurirab concluded.