Adolf Kaure
Lukas Muha has pledged to serve the 7th National Council with seriousness and dedication after being re-elected as the chairperson of the National Council at Parliament on Friday.
Muha is the regional councillor for Mankumpi constituency in the Kavango West region and will serve as chairperson of the National Council for another five-year term, from 2025 to 2030.
“As a chairperson, I solemnly promise to undertake the constitutional mandate of this Council of representation, legislation, and oversight with seriousness and dedication,” said Muha. “I will safeguard the decorum of this House, ensuring that our debates remain respectful, constructive, and focused on advancing the interests of all Namibians,” he said. Muha also served as the chairperson of the 6th National Council from 2020 to 2025 and has been the regional councillor of the Mankumpi constituency since 2015. The National Council is expected to collaborate with other institutions, such as the National Assembly and other organs of State, to execute their mandate.
“This ensures that the National Council remains responsive and relevant. This council belongs to you, and it is our solemn responsibility to uphold and advance its enduring legacy as a cornerstone of democratic governance. Together, we will build on the foundations laid by those who came before us,” he said. Swapo’s Emma Muteka was elected as the vice chairperson of the 7th National Council. She is the regional councillor for the Windhoek West constituency in the Khomas region.
The occasion also served as a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected members of the 7th National Council. Following the recent Regional Councils and Local Authorities elections, each of Namibia’s 14 regions elected three representatives.
The representatives took the oath of office to begin their five-year term as members of the National Council in the presence of Supreme Court Justice Elton Hoff. The legacy report was developed at the end of the 6th National Council to serve as a compass and an institutional archive.
The legacy report will assist councillors in debating motions throughout the 7th National Council’s five-year journey.
Current bills
Several bills have been introduced to the National Assembly and will soon be referred to the National Council.
Among others, these bills include the Mental Health Bill, Regional Council Amendment Bill, Land Bill and Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Bill. Muha urged councillors to prepare themselves for upcoming sessions so that their work may reflect the hopes and aspirations of all Namibians.
“Together, we will build on the foundations laid by those who came before us, ensuring that the National Council remains responsive and relevant.”
The 7th National Council is expected to commence early in 2026. The mandate of Namibia’s National Council, also known as the “House of Review”, is to focus on representing regional interests, reviewing bills from the National Assembly (lower house).
The National Council receives and considers bills referred to it and recommends legislation on regional matters, and provides oversight, acting as a check on power, ensuring laws consider diverse regional needs before they become law.
It holds powers to investigate, hold public hearings, and establish committees to fulfil its review and oversight duties, ensuring all aspects of proposed laws are thoroughly examined.
The National Council, or the Upper House of the Parliament of Namibia, was established after the first regional councils elections in 1992 and the House was inaugurated on 23 February 1993.
-akaure@nepc.com.na