The National Assembly will go on an early recess on Thursday due to the upcoming regional council and local authority elections.
It will resume on 3 February, National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila announced on Wednesday.
The decision was made after a meeting with political party chief whips on Monday to discuss the upcoming elections.
“The view of the majority was that this assembly adjourn this Thursday for recess and resume again on the first Tuesday of February 2026 for the continuation of the third session,” she said.
“Elections are an important part of our democracy, and the elections we are having are not presidential and National Assembly elections, they are regional and local authority elections. This means every member must be in the constituency and local authority where they are registered,” she said.
The speaker said it would be impossible for parliamentarians to meet on 25 November and vote on 26 November.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the decision is in the public interest and to uphold democracy.
However, Independence Patriots for Change parliamentarian John Louw-Mouton has objected to the recess, saying it is a violation of the standing rules.
