KAS Office Namibia
www.kas.de/namibia
Republic of Namibia
KAS Factbook April 2015
© Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.
Independence
21 March 1990 (national holiday)
Capital
Windhoek (about 300,000 inhabitants)1
Government
Republic (bicameral system)
member of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1990
Official Language
English (until 1990 also Afrikaans and German)
Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10
indigenous African languages and 3 Indo-European languages.
Most frequent mother tongues are: Oshiwambo (48.9%),
Nama/Damara (11.3%), Afrikaans (10.4%).2
Administration
14 regions: Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Kavango-East, KavangoWest, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke,
Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi
President
Dr. Hage Geingob
Area
824,292 km2
Geographical borders
Angola (north), Zambia (north-east), Zimbabwe (north-east),
Botswana (east), South Africa (south), Atlantic Ocean (west)
Population
2,127,0133, 38.4% urban4
Population growth rate 0.67% (2014 est.)5
Unemployment rate
Total: 29.6 %, Youth (15-34 years): 41.7%6
Currency
1 Namibia Dollar (NAD) = 1 South African Rand (ZAR)
1 NAD ≈ 0.077 EUR, 1 EUR ≈ 12.98 NAD7
Religion
80%-90% Christian (at least 50% Lutheran), 10%-20%
indigenous beliefs
1
City of Windhoek, http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/tour_history_heritage.php (06.04.2015) Other estimates
higher number.
2
CIA, The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html (06.04.2015)
3
Namibia Statistics Agency: Labour Fource Survey 2013,
http://www.nsa.org.na/files/NLFS%202014_Final_with%20bleed%20and%20crop%20marks.pdf (06.04.2015)
4 CIA, The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html (06.04.2015)
5
CIA, The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html (06.04.2015)
6 Namibia Statistics Agency: Labour Fource Survey 2013,
http://www.nsa.org.na/files/NLFS%202014_Final_with%20bleed%20and%20crop%20marks.pdf (06.04.2015)
7 http://www.oanda.com/lang/de/currency/converter/ (06.04.2015)
-1-
Contents
History – Colonialism and Independence ................................................................................. 3
State and Politics ....................................................................................................................... 3
Judiciary ................................................................................................................................ 3
Legislative ............................................................................................................................. 4
Executive............................................................................................................................... 7
Economy ................................................................................................................................... 9
Economic Data ...................................................................................................................... 9
Foreign trade ....................................................................................................................... 11
Tourism ............................................................................................................................... 13
Society and Stage of Development ......................................................................................... 14
Demographic Development and Socioeconomic Factors ................................................... 16
Employment and Unemployment ....................................................................................... 16
Third National Development Plan (NDP3)......................................................................... 17
-2www.kas.de/namibia
History – Colonialism and Independence
The “Scramble for Africa” began in the Age of Colonialism at the end of the 19th century. At
the 1884/85 Congo Conference in Berlin, Namibia became a German colony known as
“Deutsch-Südwestafrika“. During the First World War, the German “Schutztruppe”
surrendered in the 1915 battle against the South African army. Thereupon Namibia became a
mandated territory of South Africa in 1920. In 1966 the UNO – in the capacity of the League
of Nation’s successor – withdrew the mandate. But the South African government did not
accept this and continued – despite international protests – illegally administrating the territory
as its fifth province. Eventually the long winded liberation struggle of the 1960s founded South
West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) lead to the nation’s first free elections and drove
Namibia into independence in 1990. Sam Nujoma became the nation’s first president. Walvis
Bay, Namibia’s only deep water harbour – that is responsible for the entire oversee trade –
remained South African until 1994.
State and Politics
Judiciary
The Namibian Constitution of 1990 is considered one of the most modern in the world. The
judiciary in Namibia is independent. The courts’ structure is made up of a three tier hierarchy:
the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Lower Courts. The highest court of appeal is the
Supreme Court. The Magistrates’ Courts (part of the Lower Courts) have civil and criminal
jurisdiction with certain restrictions and limitations in respect of the seriousness of the offence,
the nature of punishment, and territorial jurisdiction. Prior to 1990, the courts of Namibia were
an extension of the judicial system of South Africa. Today, South African jurisdiction, RomanDutch law and Namibian jurisdiction form the basis of the Namibian common and customary
law.
-3www.kas.de/namibia
Hierarchy of the Judiciary
Supreme Court
Chief Justice: Mr. P.S. Shivute
Deputy Chief Justice: Mr. P.T. Damaseb
Judges: Mr. S.S. Mainga, Mr. D. F. Smuts
Chief Registrar: Ms. E. Schickerling
Deputy Chief Registrar: Ms. N. Tjahikika
Assistant Registrar: Mr. J. Libana
Judges’ Research Assistant: Ms. Y. Hussellmann
Special Assistant to the Chief Justice: Ms. M. Viljoen
High Court
Judge President: Mr. P.T. Damaseb
Judges: Mr. E. Hoff, Mrs. K. van Niekerk, N. Ndauendapo, Mr. J.C. Liebenberg,
Mr. N.N. Shivute, Ms. M. Tommasi, Mr. A Siboleka, Mr. H. Geier, Mr. S. Ueitele,
Mr. M. Cheda, Mr. H. January
Chief Registrar: Ms. E. Eschickerling
Deputy Chief Registrar: vacant
Assistant Registrars: Mr. H. Olivier, Mr. I. Shikuambi, Ms. R. Ikuambi
Judges’ Research Assistants & Assistant Registrars: Ms. L. Amunda, Ms. K
Amkongo, Ms. N. Sikongo, Mr. S. Kandunda
Northern Local Division in Oshakati
Assistant Registrars: Ms. W. Theron, Ms. F. Kambo
For further information refer to Horn, Nico & Bösl, Anton: The Independence of the Judiciary in Namibia. Windhoek 2008.
For the latest updates please contact Chief Registrar High & Supreme Court of Namibia
Legislative
In Namibia the legislature consists of two chambers, the National Assembly and the National
Council. The National Assembly’s 96 members are elected by direct poll. Up to eight delegates
are nominated by the president for their special expertise and skills; however, they do not have
the right to vote within the National Assembly. The legislative period is five years. The
National Council contains 26 members and is comparable to a senate. From each of the 13
-4www.kas.de/namibia
regions, two delegates are sent to the National Council for a period of five years.8 Furthermore,
there is a Regional Council in each region, which is also elected for five years.
List of parties that are currently accredited with the Electoral Commission of Namibia
1) APP
2) CDV
3) CoD
4) DPN
5) DTA
6) MAG
7) NDP
8) NEFF
9) NUDO
10) RDP
11) RP
12) SWANU
13) SWAPO
14) UDF
15) UPM
16) WRP
All People’s Party
Christian Democratic Voice Party
Congress of Democrats
Democratic Party of Namibia
DTA of Namibia
Monitor Action Group
National Democratic Party of Namibia
Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters
National Unity Democratic Organisation of Namibia
Rally for Democracy and Progress
Republican Party of Namibia
Swanu of Namibia
SWAPO Party of Namibia
United Democratic Front of Namibia
United People’s Movement
Worker Revolutionary Party
ECN. http://www.ecn.na/political-parties (13.04.2015)
SWAPO
DTA
CoD
UDF
NUDO
MAG
SWANU
RP
APP
RDP
WRP
other
National Assembly: Election results (in %)
1989
1994
1999
2004
20099
57.3
72.7
76.3
76.1
74.29
28.6
20.4
9.4
5.1
3.13
9.9
7.1
0.66
5.7
2.9
2.9
3.6
2.4
4.2
3.01
1.6
0.81
0.67
0.8
0.58
0.62
2
0.81
1.33
11.16
8.4
4
1.5
0.9
0.71
201410
80.01
4.80
0.38
2.12
2.01
0.34
0.71
0.68
2.29
3.51
1.49
1.65
8
Before the second amendment of the Constitution in 2010 it was six years (see the Constitution of Namibia,
Article 70).
For a critical analysis of the election plase refer to Anton Bösl. Namibias Demokratie – ihre Fassade und Erosion. Die
Parlaments- und Praesidentschaftswahlen im November 2009. in KAS Auslandsinformationen. 2/2010. Berlin
10
The number of seats was increased from 72 to 96.
9
-5www.kas.de/namibia
Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). http://www.ecn.na/election_result.html (23.02.2011) and
http://www.ecn.na/2014-results (13.04.2015)
National Assembly distribution of seats
2014*
2010*
2005
2000
1995
1990
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
SWAPO
DTA
CoD
UDF
NUDO
MAG
SWANU
RP
APP
RDP
UP
other
100%
Cf. http://www.parliament.gov.na/ (23.02.2011)
National Council: distribution of seats since 1993
2004*
24
2004
23
1999
1993
1 1
2
22
10
3
7
SWAPO
DTA
1
1
0
UDF
*After a by-election in Omaheke region in March 2004 SWAPO party got one further seat in parliament to the disadvantage
of the DTA.
Cf. http://www.parliament.gov.na/ (23.02.2011)
Year
Presidential election
National Assembly
Regional Council
Local Authorities
Turnout of voters (in %)
1989 1992 1994 1998 1999 2004 2009 2014
76
61
85
96.5
xx
97
76
61
85
72
81
40
55
66
xx
82
34
44
34
xx
-6www.kas.de/namibia
Cf. ECN. http://www.ecn.na/election_result.html (21.02.2011)
Executive
President
Dr. Hage Geingob
The presidency is limited to two terms of five years each.
Deputy President
Dr. Nickey Iyambo
Prime Minister
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Deputy Prime Minister
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Results of the presidential elections (in %)
Presidential candidate
1989 1994 1999 2004
Sam Nujoma (SWAPO)
74.46 76.84
Hifikepunye Pohamba
76.45
(SWAPO)
Hage Geingob (SWAPO)
Mishake Muyongo (DTA)
23.08
Katuutire Kaura (DTA)
9.63
5.12
McHenry Venaani (DTA)
Justus Garoëb (UDF)
3.02
3.83
Henk Mudge (RP)
Kuaima Riruako (Nudo)
Asser Mbai (Nudo)
Ben Ulenga (CoD)
Hipido Hamutenya (RDP)
Usutuaije Maamberua
(SWANU)
Ignatius Shixwameni (APP)
Kosie Pretorius (MAG)
2009
75.25
2015
-
2.98
-
-
10.5
-
1.95
4.23
7.28
-
1.16
2.92
0.72
10.91
-
86.73
4.97
supported
H. Geingob
0.97
1.88
0.39
3.39
0.56
-
-
-
1.15
-
0.82
-
2.37
ECN. http://www.ecn.na/election_result.html (21.02.2011)
List of Ministries, current Ministers and Vice Ministers (April 2015)
Under President Geingob a number of ministries has been renamed, split or newly created.
The Ministry for Veteran Affairs has been abolished. The following position were upgraded
to ministerial positions:
Minister in charge of the National Planning Commission: Tom Alweendo
Minister of the Presidency: Frans Kapofi
Minister of the Vice President’s Office: Royal /Ui/o/oo, Alexia Manombe-Ncube
-7www.kas.de/namibia
Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister: Christine //Hoebes,
Minister of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Peya Mushelenga, Maureen Hinda
1) Ministry of Finance: Calle Schlettwein, Natangwe Ithete
2) Ministry of International Relations and Cooperations and Deputy Prime Minister :
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
3) Ministry of Safety and Security : Charles Namoloh, Daniel Kashikola
4) Ministry of Works and Transport: Alpheus !Natuseb, Kilus Nguvauva, James Sankwasa
5) Ministry of Environment and Tourism: Pohamba Shifeta, Tommy Nambahu
6) Ministry of Justice: Dr. Albert Kawana, Lidwina Shapwa
7) Ministry of Defence: Penda ya Ndakolo, Billy Mwaningange
8) Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration: Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, Erastus Uutoni
9) Ministry for Public Enterprises11: Leon Jooste, Engel Nawatiseb
10) Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation12: Dr. Itah Kandjii-Murangi, Dr.
Becky Ndjoze-Ojo
11) Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture: Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, Anna Nghipondoka
12) Ministry of Urban and Rural Development: Sophia Shaningwa, Derek Klazen, Sylvia
Makgone
13) Ministry of Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare13: Bishop Zephania Kameeta, Rev.
Aino Kapewangolo
14) Ministry of Health and Social Services: Dr. Bernard Haufiku, Juliet Kavetuna
15) Ministry of Land Reform: Utoni Nujoma, Bernadus Swartbooi
16) Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare: Doreen Sioka, Lucia Witbooi
17) Ministy of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation: Erkki Nghimtina,
Alpheus Muheua
18) Ministry of Mines and Energy: Obeth Kandjoze, Kornelia Shilunga
19) Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service: Jerry Ekandjo, Agnes Tjongarero
20) Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry: John Mutorwa, Anna Shiweda
21) Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development: Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Pieter
van der Walt
22) Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources: Bernhard Esau, Samuel Ankama
23) Ministry of Information and Communication Technology: Tjekero Tweya, Stanley
Simataa
Agencies (equated to ministries) are:



The Namibia Central Intelligence Service: Ben Likando (Director)
Electoral Commission: Prof. Paul John Isaak (Director of Elections)
Anti-corruption Commission: Paulus Kalomho Noa (Director)
11
New ministry.
Split into two.
13
New ministry
12
-8www.kas.de/namibia
Economy
Nearly twenty-one years after independence, Namibia still remains dependent on its most
important economic partner, the Republic of South Africa. About half of the population lives
on subsistence farming, but this sector only forms about one tenth of the GDP. Mining and
processing of minerals is another important industry, but it only employs 3 percent of the
population. Meanwhile, Namibia is the fifth largest producer of uranium in the world. Despite
the comparably high income per capita for this region, the wealth distribution is extremely
uneven in Namibia.
Economic Data
GDP composition by sector
62.6%
2013 (est.)
29.6%
7.7%
58.2%
2010 (est.)
32.7%
9.0%
54%
2006
37.0%
9.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
Services
30.0%
Industry
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
Agriculture
CIA, The World Factbook, 21.02.2011 and 06.04.2015. For more detailed information please refer to Bank of Namibia,
Economic Outlook, https://www.bon.com.na/Publications/Economic-Outlook.aspx (06.04.2015)
-9www.kas.de/namibia
Composition of GDP (first half 2014)
2%
6%
11%
Agriculture
5%
Fishing
Mining, quarrying
20%
Manufacturing
Electricity, water
23%
Construction
Wholesale, tetail trade
19%
10%
4%
Hotels and restaurants
Transport, communication
Namibia Statistics Agency, http://www.nsa.org.na/dataset/ (06.04.2015)
GDP composition by end use
Household consumption
-25%
30%
Government consumption
Investment in fixed capital
Investment in inventories
21%
13%
11%
Exports of goods and services
Imports of goods and services
0%
CIA, The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html (06.04.2015)
- 10 www.kas.de/namibia
Business Climate Index
Institute for Public Policy Research, The IJG Business Climate Monitor for February 2015,
http://www.ippr.org.na/sites/default/files/Business_Climate_Monitor_2015.02.pdf (06.04.2015)
Foreign trade
International Trade Centre, http://www.intracen.org/layouts/CountryTemplate.aspx (06.04.2015)
- 11 www.kas.de/namibia
Trade Partners Export
Namibia exports most of its products in the region. Furthermore it mainly ships to Western
Europe, North America and China.
International Trade Centre,
http://www.intracen.org/layouts/CountryTemplate.aspx?pageid=47244645034&id=47244652352 (06.04.2015)
Export of natural resources
Namibia is rich in natural resources. There is a huge quantity of ore and minerals. The famous
diamond “Sperrgebiet“ can be found in the Namib desert along the Atlantic coast-line. The
exploitation of uranium is the second most important portion of the mining sector. In 2006, the
Rössing mine near Swakopmund contributed approximately 7% to the worldwide uranium
extraction.14
Official Development Assistance
The top five donors are the USA, Germany, and the European Union (figures in Mio USD).
OEC, http://www.compareyourcountry.org/aid-statistics (06.04.2015)
14
Rössing Uranium Limited, Rössing Uranium in 2007. http://www.rossing.com (22.07.2010).
- 12 www.kas.de/namibia
Tourism
Due to its dry climate, Namibia is an ideal destination for tourists. German tourists are
especially attracted by the Namibian history as well as the fact that some local people still
speak German in many places and also that there are many German Namibians living
permanently in Namibia.
Namibia Tourism Board, http://www.namibia-tourism.com/reisebranche/statistiken/ (06.04.2015)
- 13 www.kas.de/namibia
Society and Stage of Development
Namibia is a sparsely populated country. Centres are the Khomas Region with the capital city
Windhoek, the so called O-regions in the North and the coast in Erongo region.
Population by Region
7%
4% 4%
4%
7%
//Karas
Erongo
Hardap
Kavango
Khomas
Kunene
Ohangwena
Omaheke
Omusati
Oshana
Oshikoto
Otjozondjupa
9%
10%
8%
11%
3%
17%
12%
4%
Zambezi
Namibia Statistics Agency,
http://www.nsa.org.na/files/NLFS%202014_Final_with%20bleed%20and%20crop%20marks.pdf (06.04.2015)
Globally, Namibia is a country with a medium development level (upper middle income
country15). In fact, it is a country with large social inequalities. According to the Gini
coefficient – a measure of income and wealth distribution among the population – in the 1990s,
Namibia denoted the highest income disparities in the world.
Human Development Index (2010)16
Gini-Koeffizient (2010)17
Ibrahim Index of African
Governance (2013)18
Namibia
Germany
Namibia
Germany
Namibia
0.624 (rank 127)
0.911 (rank 6)
63.9
28.31
70.3
(rank 4 in Southerm Africa)
The World Bank’s main criterion for classifying economies is gross national income (GNI) per capita. Based on its GNI
per capita, every economy is classified as low, lower middle, upper middle ($3,946 to $12,195), or high income.
http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-classifications/country-and-lending-groups#Upper_middle_income (28.02.11)
16 The HDI measures development by combining indicators of life expectancy, educational attainment and income. The HDI
sets a minimum and a maximum for each dimension, called goalposts, and then shows where each country stands in relation
to these goalposts, expressed as a value between 0 and 1UNDP Human Development Report 2014,
http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/NAM (06.04.2015)
17
The Gini coefficient measures inequality; a value of 0 indicates total equality, a value of 1 maximal inequality UNDP
Human Development Report 2014, http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/NAM (06.04.2015)
18 The Ibrahim Index measures the delivery of public goods and services to citizens by government and non-state actors in
African countries, using indicators like safety and rule of law, participation and rights, sustainable economic opportunity,
and human development (score out of 100). The countries of Southern Africa are: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar,
15
- 14 www.kas.de/namibia
Namibia
SI: 7.0 (rank 34)
MI: 6.1 (rank29)
South
Africa
SI: 7.09 (rank 30)
MI: 6.22 (rank27)
Bertelsmann Transformations
Index (BTI) (2010)19
Namibia compared to other countries in Southern Africa
Namibias 2005-2009 compared to 2009-2013
Mo Imbrahim Foundation, http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/publications-archive (04.06.2015)
Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Afica, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/publications-archive (04.06.2015)
19 The BTI is a ranking of 128 developing and transforming countries referring to their political and economic development
(Satus-Index, SI) and the outcome of reform strategies of governments to achieve rule of law, democracy and social market
economy (Management-Index, MI), http://www.btiproject.de/fileadmin/Inhalte/reports/2014/pdf/BTI%202014%20Namibia.pdf (06.04.2015)
- 15 www.kas.de/namibia
Demographic Development and Socioeconomic Factors
Live expectancy at birth
Average age
Infant mortality rate
Total Fertility Rate
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Literacy
2014 est.
2014 est.
2014 est.
2014 est.
2012 est.
2008
51.85 Jahre
22.8 Jahre
45.64 deaths/1,000 live births
2.25 children born/woman
13.3%
9.5%
88.8%
CIA, The World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html (06.04.2015For histotic
date please refer to Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung. Namibia im Überblick. http://www.hsf.org.na/download/NamibiaImUeberblick.pdf
(25.9.2009)
Employment and Unemployment20
Employment by Place of Work
Non-Profit organisation
0.5%
Cooperative
0.5%
Informal Private interprise
6.4%
Private Household Subsistence
6.6%
Parastatal
6.9%
Private Household Commercial Farm
7.1%
Private Household Non-Farm
7.5%
Government
18.9%
Formal Private interprise
45.6%
In 2013 the unemployment rate was 29.6%. Especially the youth is affected by
unemployment.
The data is based on the broad definition of unemployment. „The broad measure of unemployment regards all those
without jobs, who are available for work and looked or did not look for work.” (Namibian Labour Force Survey 2008)
20
- 16 www.kas.de/namibia
Unemployment rate over the years (in %)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1997
2000
2004
total
2008
urban areas
2012
2013
rural areas
Unemployment by age (2013)
65+
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
4.0%
6.0%
11.1%
14.9%
17.2%
20.2%
23.6%
28.6%
35.6%
20-24
52.5%
15-19
69.4%
Namibia Statistics Agency: The Namibia Labour Force Surcey 2013 Report,
http://www.nsa.org.na/files/NLFS%202014_Final_with%20bleed%20and%20crop%20marks.pdf (06.04.2015)
Third National Development Plan (NDP3)
The National Planning Commission launched a development campaign themed “Vision 2030”.
In this regard the Third National Development Plan (NDP3) aims to implement the recent
Vision 30 development goals. These are: creating “prosperity, harmony, peace and political
stability”21 for the Namibian people.
21
Nationnal Planing Commission, Vision 2030. Preface. http://www.npc.gov.na/vision/pdfs/Preface.pdf (25.9.2009).
Republic of Namibia, Third National Development Plan (NDP3). 2007/2008-2011/12, Volume I, Windhoek 2008.
http://www.npc.gov.na/docs/NDP3_Vol.2_Revised_Draft_09.06.2008.pdf (22.07.2010).
- 17 www.kas.de/namibia