IMELDA AMBONDO
Seven Bills will be tabled in parliament during the third session of the eighth parliament this year.
According to the National Assembly, Bills projected to be tabled this year include the Land Bill, Mental Health Bill, Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Bill, Regional Councils Amendment Bill, Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill, Income Tax Amendment Bill and the Public Accountants and Auditors Bill
Some of these Bills have already featured in Parliament’s previous programme but did not progress.
Addressing the Official Opening of Parliament, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said lawmakers had considered and tabled several Bills last year, including the Land Bill, Regional Councils Amendment Bill, Mental Health Bill, and the Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Bill.
She further noted that notices were issued for the Accountants and Auditors Regulatory Authority Bill, the Income Tax Amendment Bill, and the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Amendment Bill .
However, the President expressed disappointment with the outcome of the legislative process.
“Regrettably, of all these nine Bills, only two budget-related Bills went through,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said, adding that “the people of Namibia deserve better services from their elected representatives” .
She said that the purpose of tabling these Bills is to respond directly to citizens’ needs and strengthen governance, urging Parliament to prioritise their passage in 2026.
“The majority of our people want to see parliamentarians performing their fundamental constitutional duties of making laws, which will guide and address the actual needs of our citizens,” the President said .
The National Assembly has indicated that the timing of the Bills’ tabling will depend on their finalisation by the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, but they are expected to feature prominently on Parliament’s agenda throughout the 2026 legislative year .
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