Namibia: Government#
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch Suedwest Afrika), South-West Africa etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name "namib" means "vast place" in the Nama/Damara language | |
|---|---|---|
| Government type | presidential republic | |
| Capital | Windhoek
Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April | |
| Administrative divisions | 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language | |
| Independence | 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) | |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 21 March (1990) | |
| Constitution | drafted 9 February 1990, signed 16 March 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990; amended 1998, 2010, 2014 (2016) | |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law | |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019) election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 86.7%, McHenry VENAANI (DTA) 5.0%, Hidipo HAMUTENYA (RDP) 3.4%, Asser MBAI (NUDO)1.9%, Henk MUDGE (RP) 1.0%, other 2.0% | |
| Legislative branch | description: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president) and the National Council, which primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly (26 seats (to be expanded to 42 in 2016); members indirectly elected 2 each by the 13 regional councils to serve 5-year terms) elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 27 November 2015 (next to be held in November 2020); National Assembly - last held on 28 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2019) election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 40, NUDO 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 80.0%, DTA 4.8%, RDP 3.5%, APP 2.3%, UDF 2.1%, NUDO 2.0%, CPN 1.5%, other 3.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 77, DTA 5, RDP 3, APP 2, UDF 2, NUDO 2, CPN 2, SWANU 1, UPM 1, RP 1 | |
| Judicial branch | highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65 but can be extended by the president until age 70 subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts | |
| Political parties and leaders | All People's Party or APP (Ignatius SHIXWAMENI) Communist Party of Namibia or CPN (formerly known as Workers' Revolutionary Party or WRP) (Attie BEUKES and Harry BOESAK) Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA (McHenry VENAANI) National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO (Asser MBAI) Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP (Jeremiah NAMBINGA) Republican Party or RP (Henk MUDGE) South West Africa National Union or SWANU (Usutuaije MAAMBERUA) South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO (Hage GEINGOB, acting president) United Democratic Front or UDF (Justus | GAROEB) United People's Movement or UPM (Jan J. VAN WYK) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | National Society for Human Rights or NAMRIGHTS The Affirmative Repositioning Movement or AR (Job AMUPANDA, Dimbulukweni NAUYOMA, George KAMBALA)other: various labor unions | |
| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Martin ANDJABA (since 3 September 2010) chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (1) (202) 986-0540 FAX: (1) (202) 986-0443 | |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas Frederick DAUGHTON (since 6 October 2014) embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek telephone: (264) (61) 295-8500 FAX: (264) (61) 295-8603 | |
| Flag description | a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources | |
| National symbol(s) | oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow | |
| National anthem | name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave" lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB note: adopted 1991 |