Government
Type: Republic.
Independence:  March 21, 1990.
Branches: Executive--president (elected for 5-year term), prime minister. Legislative--bicameral Parliament: National Assembly and National Council. Judicial--Supreme Court, the High Court, and lower courts.
Subdivisions: 13 administrative regions.
Major political parties: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), United Democratic Front of Namibia (UDF), Congress of Democrats (COD), Republican Party (RP), National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO), Monitor Action Group (MAG).
Suffrage: Universal adult. 

NAMIBIA GOVERNMENT AND NAMIBIA POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Namibia is a multiparty, multiracial democracy, with a president who is elected for 5-year term. The constitution establishes a bicameral Parliament and provides for general elections every 5 years and regional elections every 6 years. Members of the 72-seat National Assembly are elected on a party list system on a proportional basis. Members of the 26-seat National Council are elected from within popularly elected Regional Councils. The three branches of government are subject to checks and balances, and provision is made for judicial review. The judicial structure in Namibia largely parallels that of South Africa and comprises a Supreme Court, the High Court, and lower courts. Roman-Dutch law has been the common law of the territory since 1919. Namibia's unitary government is currently in the process of decentralization.

The constitution provides for the private ownership of property and for human rights protections, and states that Namibia should have a mixed economy and encourage foreign investment.

Sam Nujoma, leader of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), was President from Namibia's independence in 1990 until 2005. In November 2004, citizens elected Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Hifikepunye Pohamba to be the next President. Pohamba was inaugurated in March 2005 in conjunction with celebrations marking the country's fifteenth anniversary. International and domestic observers agreed the 2004 elections were generally free and well administered despite some irregularities. Pohamba was elected President with 76.4% of the vote. SWAPO won 55 of the 72 elected seats in the National Assembly. Six opposition parties won a total of 17 seats, including the Congress of Democrats party, which won the largest number of opposition votes; the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance; the National Unity Democratic Organization; the United Democratic Front; the Republican Party; and the Monitor Action Group.

Principal Government Officials
President--Hifikepunye Pohamba
Prime Minister--Nahas Angula
Deputy Prime Minister--Libertina Amathila
National Assembly Speaker--Theo-Ben Gurirab
National Council Chairperson--Asser Kapere
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Marco Hausiku
Minister of Defense--Major General Charles Namoloh
National Planning Commission Director--Helmut Angula
Namibia Central Intelligence Service Director--Lukas Hangula
Minister of Education--Nangolo Mbumba
Minister of Finance--Saara Kuugongelwa
Minister of Safety and Security--Peter Tsheehama
Minister of Trade and Industry--Immanuel Ngatjizeko
Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration--Rosalia Nghindinwa
Minister of Information and Broadcasting--Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Minister of Justice--Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana
Minster of Mines and Energy--Erkki Nghimtina
Minister of Labor and Social Welfare--Alpheus Naruseb
Minister of Health and Social Service--Richard Kamwi
Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Forestry--Nickey Iyambo 
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources--Abraham Iyambo
Minister of Environment and Tourism--Willem Konjore
Minister of Lands and Resettlement--Jerry Ekandjo
Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing-- John Pandeni
Minister of Works, Transport and Communication-Joel Kaapanda
Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare--Marlene Mungunda
Minister of Youth and National Service--John Mutorwa
Ambassador to UN--Martin Andjaba
Ambassador to U.S.--Patrick Nandago

Namibia maintains an embassy in the United States at 1605 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington DC 20009 (tel: (202) 986-0540; fax: (202) 986-0443).