Windhoek: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has officially declared Wednesday, 26 November 2025, a public holiday to allow Namibians to participate in the seventh Regional Councils and Local Authorities elections. The announcement is contained in Government Gazette No. 8789, published on Wednesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Proclamation No. 41, issued under the Public Holidays Act of 1990, sees President Nandi-Ndaitwah exercising her powers in terms of section 1(3) to set aside the day as a nationwide holiday. The date aligns with Proclamation No. 37 of 26 September 2025, which designated 26 November as Namibia's polling day for Regional Councils and Local Authorities Elections.

Namibians will cast their ballots in 120 constituencies for the Regional Council elections, and in 59 local authorities across all 14 regions for the Local Authorities elections. The public holiday is expected to ease voter participation by ensuring that registered voters have sufficient time to travel to polling stations.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has announced that 25 and 27 November will be school holidays. In a memo issued on Wednesday by the Executive Director, Mbumba Erasmus Haitengela, the ministry confirmed that all school hostels will remain open on 25 November and throughout election day to accommodate learners who reside in hostels.

According to the Electoral Commission of Namibia, 21 political parties, 22 organisations and 66 independent candidates are participating in the elections. Meanwhile, 1,499,449 Namibians have registered to vote in next week's elections.