DTA, UDF named as official opposition

Namibia's national assembly speaker Mosé Tjitendero on Wednesday announced that the parliamentary coalition between the Democratic Turnahlle Alliance (DTA) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) was the official opposition, prompting the Congress of Democrats (CoD) to walk out of the assembly in protest, 'The Namibian' said on Thursday.

Tjitendero's announcement brought to an end months of speculation about which party would become the 'official' opposition after the CoD and the DTA both won seven seats in last year's election. The CoD walked out after Tjitendero said his ruling could not be discussed. The CoD was quoted as
saying that it would challenge Tjitendero's decision, using all avenues including the courts.

The Directorate of Elections had declared the CoD as the official opposition when the election results were announced.

Tjitendero said the "pronouncements" of the Directorate of Elections had no "effect upon this House (National Assembly)". The speaker said he was entitled to decide the issue based on the Standing Rules of the National Assembly which defines the "leader of the official opposition" as the "person occupying the position of leader of the largest opposition party in
the Assembly".

Tjitendero said: "All things being equal, it remains the discretion of the Speaker to recognise a particular party or coalition of parties as representing the official opposition."