Land, petroleum bills top National Assembly agenda

As the National Assembly resumes today, the long-awaited land bill is expected to take centre stage amid growing public concern over land access and calls for the reform of outdated legislation. The assembly adjourned on 30 April after passing the 2026/27 national budget, which was subsequently approved by the National Council. Lawmakers are now expected to focus on several key pieces of legislation, including the land bill, the public enterprises governance amendment bill, the petroleum bill, and the mental health bill.

“We must finish the mental health bill, then move on to the land bill, the state-owned enterprises bill and the petroleum bill,” parliamentarian Vetaruhe Kandorozu says. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says he expects robust debate on the proposed legislation due to its far-reaching implications for governance, resource management and national development. He says the land bill should receive the highest priority, describing land as one of Namibia’s most sensitive and important national issues, affecting livelihoods, investment, housing, agriculture and social equity.