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Judges are appointed by the President of the republic on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. Government and politics Last elections: 28 November 2014 (presidential and legislative) Next elections: 2019 Head of state: President Hage Geingob Head of government: The President Ruling party: SWAPO Women MPs: 41% The elections in November/December 1999 produced a clear win for both the South-West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) and President Sam Nujoma. Nujoma secured close to 75 per cent of the votes cast in the presidential poll, while Ben Ulenga of the recently formed Congress of Democrats (CoD) took 11 per cent and the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) candidate Kautuuture Kaura ten per cent. In the parliamentary contest, SWAPO won 55 seats (76 per cent of the votes), the CoD seven (ten per cent) and the DTA seven (9.5 per cent). In 2001 Nujoma announced he would not seek a fourth term of office and, at its 2004 congress, Hifikepunye Pohamba was chosen as the SWAPO candidate for the presidential election in November 2004. The November 2004 presidential and legislative elections were won in landslide victories by Pohamba (76.4 per cent of votes) and SWAPO (55 of 72 seats and 75 per cent of the votes). Ulenga (CoD) received 7.3 per cent of the votes in the presidential election and Kaura (DTA) 5.1 per cent, while the CoD won five seats and DTA four. Pohamba and SWAPO were again returned to government in November 2009 in another landslide. In the presidential poll, Pohamba received 76.4 per cent of votes and his main challenger, Hidipo Hamutenya of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), 11.1 per cent. In the legislative elections, SWAPO won 54 seats (and 75.3 per cent of votes) and the RDP eight seats (11.3 per cent). On 28 November 2014, in Africa’s first electronic ballot, SWAPO’s presidential candidate, Hage Geingob, secured 86.7 per cent of the votes. DTA’s presidential candidate, McHenry Venaani, received 5.0 per cent of the votes and RDP’s Hidipo Hamutenya 3.4 per cent. In the legislative elections on the same day SWAPO won 77 seats (80.0 per cent of the votes), DTA five and RDP three. Local government Ministry: Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Association: Association for Local Authorities in Namibia; Association of Regional Councils There are three spheres of government – national, regional and local – provided for by the Regional Councils Act 1992 and the Local Authorities Act 1992. Regional and local government are enshrined in Chapter 12 of the constitution. Namibia comprises 13 regions, each with a regional council. The 52 unitary local authorities comprise 16 city councils, 17 town councils and 19 village councils. Local elections are held every five years. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA The Attorney General of the Republic of Namibia is appointed by the President in terms of Article 86 of the Namibian Constitution. The Office of the Attorney General consists of three directorates, namely Office of the Prosecutor General, Directorate Legal Advice, and Civil Litigation. Powers and Functions of the Attorney General • Exercise the final responsibility for the Office of the Prosecutor General, which not only refers to financial responsibility but includes the duty to account to the President and the legislature. • As the principal legal advisor to the President and government the Attorney General is assisted by the Directorate Legal Advice, the Directorate Civil Litigation and Office of the Prosecutor General. • The Directorate of Civil Litigation is headed by the Government Attorney and consists of senior and junior legal practitioners who represent government in all civil, labour and criminal matters against civil servants which occur within the scope of their employment.. • Directorate of Legal Advice is headed by the Chief Legal Advisor, consisting of junior and senior legal advisors who assist the Attorney General in advising the President and the government in all legal matters pertaining to national and international law. The Directorate also represents government on boards, committees, commissions; negotiates on behalf of government; drafts and scrutinises contracts, agreements, conventions; treaties; memoranda of understandings and Legislative Bills. • The Office of the Prosecutor General is headed by the Prosecutor General assisted by junior and senior public prosecutors in fulfilling its prosecutorial functions in all criminal matters. • Required to take all actions necessary for the protection and upholding of the Constitution. In pursuance of this duty, the Attorney General brought two applications to the Supreme Court of Namibia, namely: • Ex parte Attorney General: In re Corporal Punishment by Organs of State 1991 NR 178 (SC); and • Attorney General vs the Minister of Justice and others (P.12/2009) 2013 NASC 3 (4 April 2013). • Perform all such functions and duties as may be assigned to him or her by an Act of Parliament. As an example, the State Finance Act, 1991 (Act no. 31 of 1991) requires the Attorney General to scrutinise and certify any agreement or contract that may have legal and financial implications for government before they are entered into by government offices, ministries and agencies. Contact Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Justice Sanlam Building, Independence Ave Private Bag 13345, Windhoek, Namibia Tel: +264 61 280 9111 Email: pnangombe@op,gov.na www.op.gov.na Hon. Dr Albert Kawana, MP, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Attorney General


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