Namibia · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Namibia, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Constitution
- Supreme law; the rights chapter is entrenched against diminishing amendment.
- Acts of Parliament
- Primary legislation of the National Assembly.
- Pre-independence law
- South African-derived law carried over where constitutionally compatible.
- Roman-Dutch common law
- Substantive private law of contract, delict and property.
- Customary law
- Applied by community courts, subject to the constitution.
- International law
- Article 144 makes general international law and binding treaties part of Namibian law directly.
The legislative process
Bills pass the National Assembly through three readings, then go to the National Council for review. The Council may confirm, propose amendments, or object; the Assembly can override an objection by a two-thirds majority. The President then assents, and constitutional amendments require two-thirds of both chambers and may never diminish the rights chapter.
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