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 AFROL Government Profiles:
Namibia
Pre-Independence cues
16th century:
Bantu peoples settle in the most fertile areas of Namibia, expelling
Khoi and San indigenous peoples to less fertile areas.
1884: Germany annexes most of today's Namibia, naming it South
West Africa. Britain incorporates the small enclave around Walvis
Bay into the Cape Colony of South Africa.
1903-04: Herero uprisings brutally suppressed by Germany.
1915: German South West Africa invaded and seized by South
Africa during World War I.
1920: League of Nations turns administration to South Africa
as a mandate territory.
1946: Full incorporation into South Africa, under protests of
the United Nations.
1958: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) is
formed. Its aims are the fight against racial inequality and for an
independent Namibia.
1964: UN resolution ends South Africa's mandate, but South
Africa refuses to hand over its powers.
1973: UN recognises SWAPO as the 'authentic representative of
the Namibian people'.
1988: Agreement on South African troop withdrawals and full
independence for Namibia.
1989: UN peacekeepers stationed to monitor elections. SWAPO
wins landslide victory.
1990: Sam Nujoma, former guerrilla leader of SWAPO, is
elected president. Full independence is achieved on 21 March 1990.
Post-independence cues
1993:
The South Africa government (now headed by Nelson Mandela) decides to hand over
the Walvis Bay enclave to Namibia. Walvis Bay is incorporated into Namibia on 1
March 1994.
1994: SWAPO wins legislative elections and Sam Nujoma is re-elected as
president.
1999: Sam Nujoma is re-elected as president by 77% of the votes. Attacks
on the independent press and minority groups by the president and government are
increasing.
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Sam Nujoma Namibian
President since 1990
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Heads of State 1990*-2001
President
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna (Sam) Nujoma: 21 March 1990 >
* The South African presidents had executive powers in Namibia in practical
terms before 1990. Sam Nujoma was however recognised as the leader of the
Namibian nation from 1978.
Present Government composition
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Hage Gottfried Geingob Namibian
Prime Minister since 1990
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Prime Minister:
Hage Gottfried Geingob (appointed 21 March 1990 by the President)
The President acts as head of government.
Cabinet:
The cabinet is appointed by the president from among the members of the National
Assembly.
Ministers:
- Deputy Prime Minister Hendrik Witbooi
- Minister of Agriculture, Water, & Rural Development Helmut Angula
- Minister of Basic Education, Sports & Culture John Mutorwa
- Minister of Defense Erikki Nghimtina
- Minister of Environment & Tourism Philemon Malima
- Minister of Finance Nangolo Mbumba
- Minister of Fisheries & Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Information & Broadcasting Theo-Ben Gurirab
- Minister of Health & Social Services Dr. Libertine Amathila
- Minister of Higher Education, Training, & Employment Creation Nahas Angula
- Minister of Home Affairs Jerry Ekandjo
- Minister of Justice Ngarikutuke Tjiriange
- Minister of Labor Andimba Toivo ya Toivo
- Minister of Lands, Resettlement, & Rehabilitation Pendukeni Ithana
- Minister of Mines & Energy Jesaya Nyamu
- Minister of Prisons & Correctional Services Marco Hausiko
- Minister of Regional and Local Government & Housing Nicky Iyambo
- Minister of Trade & Industry Hidipo Hamutenya
- Minister Without Portfolio Hifikepunye Pohamba
- Minister of Women Affairs & Child Welfare Netumbo Ndaitwah
- Minister of Works, Transport, & Communications Moses Amweelo
- Minister of Youth & Sports Richard Kapelwa
Government type
Namibia has a republican Constitution, with strong powers given to the
President, which is both the chief of state and head of government. The
President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term (the last election was
held 30 November to 1 December 1999 and the next is to be held in 2004). The
Prime Minister is appointed by the President, which also appoints the rest of
the executive, the government.
The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament, composed of the National
Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve
six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms). Last elections to the National Council
and the National Assembly were held 30 November to 1 December 1999 (next to be
held by December 2004).
The judicial branch is lead by the Namibian Supreme Court. Judges are
appointed by the president. The legal system is based on Roman-Dutch law and
1990 constitution. The judiciary has, with some recent exceptions, experienced
independence.
Although power remains formally divided between the President, his Prime
Minister, the Cabinet, and the bicameral legislature, the presidency has a very
strong position in Namibian politics. Although the
Constitution formerly limits the President to two terms in office, in November
1998, the National Assembly amended the Constitution to permit President Nujoma
to run for a third term. President Nujoma in April 2001 stated his readiness to
run for the presidency a forth time in 2004.
Democracy and human rights
Independence meant a giant step towards the respect of democracy and human
rights in Namibia, as the black majority finally was let to elect its own
leaders. The SWAPO-led government adopted a liberal Constitution, guaranteeing
the human rights of all citizens and the introduction of democratic
institutions. Generally, this has been respected, although a tougher human
rights climate has been noted the last years.
Namibia is a multiparty, multiracial democracy. When President Sam Nujoma was
re-elected in the 1999 general elections, international and domestic observers
agreed that these were free. Some observers however reported instances of
government harassment of the opposition and unequal access to media coverage and
campaign financing.
The government generally respects the human rights of its citizens, but
several concerns have been raised the last years: Members of the security forces
have committed several extrajudicial killings while conducting extensive
security operations in the Kavango and Caprivi regions along the country's
northern border with Angola. Members of the police force are reported to have
committed serious human rights abuses. Arbitrary arrest and lengthy pre-trial
detentions are a problem.
Pressure on journalists who work for government-owned media outlets not to
criticize the Government has increased. The independent media are under attack,
and critical media have on several occasions been punished with economic
sanctions by the government. Minority groups are being attacked by the
government; especially indigenous people, the white minority, foreigners and
homosexuals. Women's rights are threatened, especially through violence.
Main sources: U.S. Department of State, CIA,
UN, Terra, CountryWatch, afrol archives
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