President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will officially open the third session of the eighth parliament on Tuesday.

The opening will be held under the theme "Enhancing the role of Parliament for inclusive development and participatory democracy."
The opening of Parliament will bring together the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
 
It will be marked by a military parade and a 21-gun salute.
 
Speaking on the Inside the Chambers Programme ahead of the opening, Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila described the 2025 parliamentary session demanding.
 
She cited a heavy legislative workload, the establishment of a new parliament, and pressure to meet constitutional deadlines.
 
“The year was a very busy year. We had many bills, many motions, and many questions. It was also a learning period, especially with a new Parliament and new members who are still finding their feet.”
 
Public concern has been raised over delays in passing legislation, with only the Appropriation Bill adopted during the 2025 session.
 
The speaker acknowledged these concerns but emphasised that parliament's constitutional mandate extends beyond lawmaking, highlighting representation and oversight as equally important responsibilities.
 
She explained that thorough debate, public consultation, and consensus-building are often time-consuming but necessary to ensure legislation reflects the real needs of citizens.
 
“There seems to be a misalignment...If we focus only on passing laws and ignore representation and oversight, we risk passing laws that do not speak to people's needs or that cannot be implemented.”
 
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also addressed criticism regarding Bills being tabled late in the session, noting that while urgency is sometimes unavoidable, rushed law-making can compromise the quality of parliamentary debate.
 
She clarified that the speaker does not set the legislative agenda, which is agreed upon by party whips, but stressed the need for cooperation to prioritise urgent and critical legislation.
 
During the 2026 session, Parliament is expected to deliberate on several key Bills.
 
This includes the Petroleum Amendment Bill, the Land Bill, and the Mental Health Bill, as well as amendments relating to public enterprises, regional councils, and taxation.
 
The Speaker said preparations for the new session are already underway, with documents distributed and parliamentary committees engaging ahead of formal debates.
 
She also urged Namibians to follow parliamentary proceedings and raise issues with their elected representatives.