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Namibia

Republic of Namibia

Mixed Roman-Dutch and English common lawSemi-presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Windhoek
Population
2,600,000
Languages
English
Currency
NAD

Namibia · Constitution

Constitution of the Republic of Namibia

Negotiated under United Nations supervision as part of decolonisation from South African administration and in force from independence in March 1990. It is unusually protective: Article 131 makes the fundamental-rights chapter entrenched so that no amendment may diminish the rights it confers, a stronger lock than a bare supermajority requirement. The constitution abolishes the death penalty in its own text rather than leaving it to statute.

The constitutional text

Negotiated under United Nations supervision as part of decolonisation from South African administration and in force from independence in March 1990. It is unusually protective: Article 131 makes the fundamental-rights chapter entrenched so that no amendment may diminish the rights it confers, a stronger lock than a bare supermajority requirement. The constitution abolishes the death penalty in its own text rather than leaving it to statute.

Separation of powers

Unitary with 14 administrative regions and elected regional councils, which also constitute the National Council, the upper chamber. Traditional authorities exercise recognised functions over communal land and customary law.

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