Lawmakers face backlog as Parliament reopens

Parliament of Namibia (Photo credit: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of United Kingdom)

The official opening of Namibia’s Parliament takes place this afternoon, uniting the three arms of the state: the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary. This event marks the start of a new parliamentary session, during which lawmakers are expected to focus on national policy, oversight, and legislation.

Key bills expected to be tabled include the Land Bill, the Public Enterprises and Governance Bill, the Mental Health Bill, and the Regional Councils Amendment Bill.

Researcher Frederico Links from the Institute for Public Policy Research notes that several bills carried over from last year must be addressed first, which may delay other planned legislation.

He adds that while Parliament spends significant time on questions and answers, more focus is needed on passing laws that directly impact citizens’ lives.