Anti-gay committee demands Mbumba’s stance

A committee that is against homosexuality and same-sex marriage has urged President Nangolo Mbumba to assent to last year’s marriage amendment bill and spouse bills, and to publicly declare his stance on the LGBTQ+ community.

The committee, led by chairperson Pendapala Nakathingo and his deputy Paulus Nuuyona, handed over a petition to the National Assembly last week. It stated that it has been eight months since the bills were passed and sent to the president’s office, but to date, no action has been taken.

“We as citizens of this country are left wondering whether the president has a concern or if he is still forming an opinion,” the petition read.

The committee said, according to the constitution, if the president is concerned by one of the bills, he should communicate these concerns to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the attorney-general in order for the matter to be decided by a competent court.

“The silence and/or inaction of the former president does very little in upholding and protecting the people and constitution. We see it as an attempt to undermine our power and that of the constitution. We hope and believe that our current president shall heed our call and assent to the bills,” the committee said.

The petition called upon the president to assent to the bills within 21 days.

“Those bills were passed by the two-thirds majority of the National Assembly and endorsed by the two-thirds majority of the National Council. These are our representatives whom we voted into power to make laws on our behalf.”

Speak up

The anti-gay group demanded that Mbumba pronounce himself on the matter. They want to know whether he stands “with the majority of citizens and sovereignty of the country against homosexuality and same-sex marriage – the evil agenda – or with the imperialists and gay foreigners”.

According to the petition, justice minister Yvonne Dausab’s conduct of spearheading the agenda to legalise homosexuality is an “insult to the law”, making her unfit for positions as minister and chairperson of the Cabinet committee on legislation.

“She is publicly undermining our constitution, and the president must not insult us by keeping her in our public justice office to continue doing injustice to our demands as voters. This mistake of appointing her as justice minister must be corrected with immediate effect,” the committee demanded.

Should Mbumba stand with Dausab and the rest of the LGBTQ+ community, the committee “will be left with no choice” but to call for a national referendum before the elections take place in November.

“Whosoever wants to lead this country must declare his or her condemnation against homosexuality and same-sex marriages. The Swapo Party must set the record straight, otherwise we shall choose our suitable presidential candidate to protect our rights and dignity.”