The judicial system comprises the Supreme Court, presided over by a chief justice; the High Court, presided over by a judge President; and the lower and magistrates’ courts. The Supreme Court serves as a constitutional court and a final court of appeal. Appeals from the lower courts come before the High Court in the first instance. Judges are appointed by the President of the republic on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. Government and politics Last elections: November 2009 (presidential and legislative) Next elections: 2014 Head of State: President Hifikepunye Pohamba Head of Government: the President Ruling party: SWAPO 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 (10 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. Nami b i a 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). 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 regional councils and local authorities have revenueraising powers, as well as receiving transfers from the national government. Regional councils do not normally provide services; the local authorities are responsible for such services as waste management, water supply, sanitation and electricity supply. National development plan The National Planning Commission in the Office of the President was provided for by the constitution and established, in an Act of 1994, to be responsible for national development planning. The national Vision 2030 was launched by the President in June 2004. This Vision aspires to improve the quality of life of the Namibian people to the level of their counterparts in the developed world by 2030. Further information Government of Namibia: www.grnnet.gov.na Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 219 Governance institutions Electoral Commission of Namibia: www.ecn.na Parliament of Namibia: www.parliament.gov.na Superior Courts: www.superiorcourts.org.na Office of the Ombudsman: www.ombudsman.org.na Anti-Corruption Commission: www.accnamibia.org National Planning Commission: www.npc.gov.na Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development: www.mrlgh.gov.na Ministry of Finance: www.mof.gov.na Ministry of Trade and Industry: www.mti.gov.na Association for Local Authorities in Namibia: www.alan.org.na Bank of Namibia: www.bon.com.na Namibian Stock Exchange: www.nsx.com.na Standards Institution: www.nsi.com.na Communications Regulatory Authority: www.cran.na Electricity Control Board: www.ecb.org.na
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