WINDHOEK—The National Council of Namibia expressed support on Tuesday for the Marriage Bill, which seeks to amend the country’s 1961 Marriage Act to explicitly declare same-sex marriage illegal and regulate other aspects of marital law.

According to Namibia Press Agency, which followed its passage in the National Assembly, the legislation is considered crucial for defining and regulating marriage within the country. Philemon Ndjambula, a representative from the Swapo Party in the Oshikoto Region, highlighted that the bill not only outlines the conduct of marriages and who may officiate them but also reinforces the definition of marriage as a union between opposite-sex partners. The bill emerges amid ongoing public and judicial debates over the status of same-sex relationships in Namibia, especially following a High Court ruling that struck down colonial-era laws criminalizing sexual acts between men.

The bill’s proponents, including Swapo’s Hans Nambondi and Harald Kambrude from the Landless People’s Movement, voiced concerns about maintaining cultural integrity and resisting foreign influences on Namibian societal norms. Kambrude noted that any move to recognize same-sex unions would necessitate a constitutional amendment, a measure he does not support. Lonia Kaishungu-Shinana, another Swapo lawmaker, described the bill as “long overdue,” asserting that it rightly confines the recognition of marriage to opposite-sex couples.

This legislative move marks a significant blow to LGBTQI+ rights in Namibia, where activists continue to fight for legal recognition and equality.