Members of Parliament have called for the swift enactment of the Parliamentary Service Commission Bill to address longstanding infrastructural, technical, and human resource challenges facing the National Assembly.

The call came during deliberations on the National Assembly’s budget vote for the 2025-26 financial year, which has been allocated N$398 million. However, MPs argued that this allocation is insufficient to resolve critical gaps that have plagued the institution for years.

Swapo Party MP Paula Kooper questioned when the Parliamentary Service Commission Bill would be tabled, describing the current situation as embarrassing, citing issues such as leaking bathrooms and inadequate facilities that shame the institution when hosting visitors.

PDM MP McHenry Venaani highlighted the lack of offices for MPs and the severe shortage of research capacity, noting that 35 years after independence, Parliament has only two researchers and no policy analyst, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the legislative process.

Swapo Party’s Dr Tobie Aupindi described the institution as "abnormal", pointing out that some MPs share offices and work with inadequate furniture, which he said is unacceptable.

Swapo Party MP Modestus Amutse noted that while parliamentary portfolio committees have increased, the number of staff serving these committees has not, calling for budget provisions to expand personnel to improve service delivery.

PDM MP Winnie Moongo criticised the slow internet and poor livestream quality, questioning the budget’s commitment to upgrading digital infrastructure to match other parliaments.

AR MP Ester Haikola raised concerns about outdated technology, mentioning that large files cannot be sent via email, and recommended an increase in the budget to address such issues.

IPC Leader and MP Immanuel Nashinge emphasised the need for more human capital to prevent staff from being overworked and demoralised.

Following the debate, the vote was deferred to allow for further consultations.