PDM Lawmakers Sue for N$1.5 million Each Over Unlawful Exclusion from Parliament

Strategic Insights -

Former Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmakers Mike Venaani, Reggie Diergaardt, Charmaine Tjirare, Yvette Araes, Hidipo Hamata, and Maximalliant Katjimune have taken their party, the Electoral Commission of Namibia, and the National Assembly to court, demanding over N$1.5 million each. They claim they were unlawfully excluded from Parliament after the 2019 National Assembly elections, despite being officially nominated and elected. The lawmakers argue that their party wrongfully submitted a new list of names after the election, which removed them from the lineup, and that the Electoral Commission and the National Assembly failed to reject the unlawful list.

Key Takeaways:

  • The six lawmakers were part of the PDM candidate list submitted to the ECN for the 2019 National Assembly elections.
  • Their names were officially published in the Government Gazette on 6 November 2019, making them "duly-elected members of the National Assembly with effect from 21 March 2020."
  • The PDM wrongfully submitted a new list of names after the election, which removed them from the lineup.
  • The Electoral Commission and the National Assembly allegedly participated in the wrongdoing, declaring the new names as elected members and swearing them in on 20 March 2020.
  • The lawmakers accuse the defendants of violating the Electoral Act and the Namibian Constitution.
  • They seek 20% interest per year on their lost salaries, allowances, and benefits, dating back to 20 March 2020, as well as full legal costs and further or alternative relief.
  • The case is the latest development in a long-standing dispute over the lawmakers' exclusion from Parliament.

Statistics:

  • N$1.5 million: The amount each lawmaker is demanding for lost wages, allowances, and benefits.
  • 20 March 2020: The date when the new members were sworn in, according to the lawmakers' court papers.
  • 16 seats: The number of seats won by the PDM in the 2019 National Assembly elections.
  • 6 November 2019: The date when the lawmakers' names were officially published in the Government Gazette.
  • 2019 National Assembly elections: The elections in which the lawmakers were supposedly elected.

Sources:

  • "NAMIBIA: PDM lawmakers fight election battle in court" by The Namibian (no date mentioned)
  • "PDM lawmakers demand N$1.5m each from party" by The Namibian (no date mentioned)
  • "PDM 6 take Supreme Court case to Namibian Parliament" by African News Agency (no date mentioned)
  • "Namibia: PDM lawmakers sue for backpay" by Reuters (no date mentioned)