Short facts about the government of Namibia
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short
form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West
Africa |
| Government
type: |
republic |
| Administrative divisions: |
13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap,
Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto,
Otjozondjupa |
| Independence: |
21 March 1990 (from South African
mandate) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 21 March
(1990) |
| Constitution: |
ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12
March 1990 |
| Legal
system: |
based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990
constitution |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of
government: President Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among
the members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected
by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 November-1 December
1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Sam Shafishuna
NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote - Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA
77% |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral legislature consists 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)
elections: National
Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National
Council, held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held by December 2004);
National Assembly - last held 30 November-1 December 1999 (next to be held by
December 2004)
election results: National Council - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 21, DTA 4, UDF 1; National Assembly
- percent of vote by party - SWAPO 76%, COD 10%, DTA 9%, UDF 3%, MAG 1%, other
1%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 7, DTA 7, UDF 2, MAG 1,
note:
the National Council is primarily an advisory
body |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service
Commission) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben
ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA,
president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa
People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF
[Justus GAROEB] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU
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 Jeffrey A. BADER
embassy: Ausplan
Building, 14 Lossen Street, Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz,
Windhoek
mailing address: use embassy street
address
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264]
(61) 229792 |
| Flag
description: |
a large blue triangle with a yellow
sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills
the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is
contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders | Source: World Factbook |
