Namibian Constitution - Legal Assistance Centre

Namibian Constitution (GG 2) The Namibian Constitution was published and came into force on the date of Independence: 21 March 1990 (Article 130).

as amended by

Namibian Constitution First Amendment Act 34 of 1998 (GG 2014)

This amending Act came into force on its date of publication: 24 December 1998.

Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010 (GG 4480)

This amending Act came into force on its date of publication: 7 May 2010, with some exceptions (section 17 of Act 7 of 2010):

? Sections 6 and 12 commenced "on the date the term of office of the existing members of the National Council ends", referring to the members

of the National Council in office when Act 7 of 2010 was enacted.

Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014 (GG 5589)

This amending Act came into force on its date of publication: 13 October 2014, with some exceptions (section 46 of Act 8 of 2014):

? Sections 1, 2(a), (b) and (d), 4(a) and (b), 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 41 and 43 commenced "after the expiry" of the term of office of the President of the Republic of Namibia in office when Act 8 of 2014 was enacted.

? Sections 4(d), 10, 12 and 44 commenced "after the expiry" of the term of office of the members of the National Assembly in office when Act 8 of 2014 was enacted. ? Sections 14 and 18 commenced "after the expiry" of the term of office of the members of the National Council in office when Act 8 of 2014 was enacted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[The Table of Contents in the Government Gazette includes page numbers. Because of the amendments and annotations, the original page numbers are not accurate

for this version of the Namibian Constitution and have been revised accordingly.

Capitalisation is reproduced throughout the document as it appears in the Government Gazette, unless otherwise noted.

The amending Acts refer to "paragraphs" and "subparagraphs", but the Constitution itself (otherwise than in the Schedules) refers only to "Sub-Articles" regardless of whether the sections

are numbered ((1),(2),(3), etc), lettered ((a),(b),(c), etc) or double-lettered ((aa),(bb),(cc), etc).]

Republic of Namibia 2 Annotated Statutes Namibian Constitution

PREAMBLE ................................................................................................................................ 7

CHAPTER 1

Article 1

Article 2 Article 3

THE REPUBLIC

Establishment of the Republic of Namibia and identification of its Territory ......................................................... 8

National Symbols......................................................................................... 8 Language...................................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER 2 Article 4

CITIZENSHIP Acquisition and Loss of Citizenship ............................................................ 9

CHAPTER 3

Article 5 Article 6 Article 7 Article 8 Article 9 Article 10 Article 11 Article 12 Article 13 Article 14 Article 15 Article 16 Article 17 Article 18 Article 19 Article 20 Article 21 Article 22 Article 23 Article 24 Article 25

FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms ...................................... 11 Protection of Life ...................................................................................... 12 Protection of Liberty ................................................................................. 12 Respect for Human Dignity ....................................................................... 12 Slavery and Forced Labour........................................................................ 12 Equality and Freedom from Discrimination ............................................. 13 Arrest and Detention ................................................................................. 13 Fair Trial .................................................................................................. 13 Privacy ....................................................................................................... 14 Family ....................................................................................................... 14 Children's Rights ...................................................................................... 14 Property...................................................................................................... 15 Political Activity ........................................................................................ 15 Administrative Justice................................................................................ 15 Culture ....................................................................................................... 15 Education ................................................................................................... 16 Fundamental Freedoms.............................................................................. 16 Limitation upon Fundamental Rights and Freedoms ................................. 17 Apartheid and Affirmative Action ............................................................. 17 Derogation ................................................................................................. 17 Enforcement of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.................................. 18

CHAPTER 4 Article 26

PUBLIC EMERGENCY, STATE OF NATIONAL DEFENCE AND MARTIAL LAW

State of Emergency, State of National Defence and Martial Law ............. 19

CHAPTER 5

THE PRESIDENT

Article 27

Head of State and Government .................................................................. 20

Article 27A

Composition of the Presidency .................................................................. 21

[Article 27A is inserted by the Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

Article 28

Election of the President and appointment of the Vice-President ............. 21

[The heading of Article 28 is substituted by the

Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

Republic of Namibia 3 Annotated Statutes Namibian Constitution

Article 29 Article 30

Article 31 Article 32 Article 33 Article 34

Term of Office ........................................................................................... 22 Oath of Affirmation ................................................................................... 23

[The heading of Article 30 is "Oath or Affirmation" in the text below.]

Immunity from Civil and Criminal Proceedings ....................................... 23 Functions, Powers and Duties.................................................................... 24 Remuneration............................................................................................. 27 Succession.................................................................................................. 27

CHAPTER 6

Article 35 Article 36 Article 37 Article 38 Article 39 Article 40 Article 41 Article 42 Article 43

THE CABINET

Composition............................................................................................... 27 Functions of the Prime Minister ................................................................ 28 Deputy-Ministers ....................................................................................... 28 Oath or Affirmation ................................................................................... 28 Vote of No Confidence .............................................................................. 28 Duties and Functions ................................................................................. 28 Ministerial Accountability ......................................................................... 29 Outside Employment ................................................................................. 29 Secretary to the Cabinet ............................................................................. 30

CHAPTER 7

Article 44 Article 45 Article 46 Article 47 Article 48 Article 49 Article 50 Article 51 Article 52 Article 53 Article 54 Article 55 Article 56 Article 57 Article 58 Article 59 Article 60 Article 61 Article 62 Article 63 Article 64 Article 65 Article 66 Article 67

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Legislative Power ...................................................................................... 30 Representative Nature................................................................................ 30 Composition............................................................................................... 30 Disqualification.......................................................................................... 31 Vacation of Seats ....................................................................................... 31 Elections .................................................................................................... 32 Duration ..................................................................................................... 32 Speaker ...................................................................................................... 32 Secretary and other Officers ...................................................................... 32 Quorum ...................................................................................................... 33 Casting Vote .............................................................................................. 33 Oath or Affirmation ................................................................................... 33 Assent to Bills............................................................................................ 33 Dissolution ................................................................................................. 34 Conduct of Business after Dissolution....................................................... 34 Rules of Procedure, Committees and Standing Orders.............................. 34 Duties, Privileges and Immunities of Members......................................... 35 Public Access to Sittings............................................................................ 35 Sessions...................................................................................................... 35 Functions and Powers ................................................................................ 36 Withholding of Presidential Assent. .......................................................... 36 Signature and Enrolment of Acts............................................................... 37 Customary and Common Law ................................................................... 37 Requisite Majorities................................................................................... 37

CHAPTER 8

Article 68 Article 69 Article 70

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

Establishment............................................................................................. 37 Composition............................................................................................... 37 Term of Office of Members....................................................................... 38

Republic of Namibia 4 Annotated Statutes Namibian Constitution

Article 71

Oath or Affirmation ................................................................................... 38

Article 72

Qualifications of Members ........................................................................ 38

Article 73

Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson............................................................ 38

Article 73A

Secretary and other Officers ...................................................................... 38

[Article 73A is inserted by the Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

Article 74

Powers and Functions ................................................................................ 39

Article 75

Review of Legislation ................................................................................ 39

Article 76

Quorum ...................................................................................................... 41

Article 77

Voting ........................................................................................................ 41

CHAPTER 9

THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Article 78

The Judiciary.............................................................................................. 41

Article 79

The Supreme court..................................................................................... 42

["Court" is capitalised in the heading which appears in the text of the Constitution.]

Article 80

The High Court .......................................................................................... 43

Article 81

Binding Nature of Decisions of the Supreme Court .................................. 43

Article 82

Appointment of Judges .............................................................................. 43

Article 83

Lower Courts ............................................................................................. 43

Article 84

Removal of Judges from Office................................................................. 44

Article 85

The Judicial Service Commission.............................................................. 45

Article 86

The Attorney-General ................................................................................ 45

Article 87

Powers and Functions of the Attorney-General......................................... 45

Article 88

The Prosecutor-General ............................................................................. 45

Article 88A

Removal of Prosecutor-General from office.............................................. 46

[Article 88A is inserted by the Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

CHAPTER 10

Article 89 Article 90 Article 91 Article 92 Article 93 Article 94

THE OMBUDSMAN

Establishment and Independence............................................................... 47 Appointment and Term of Office .............................................................. 47 Functions.................................................................................................... 47 Powers of Investigation ............................................................................. 48 Meaning of "Official" ................................................................................ 49 Removal from Office ................................................................................. 49

CHAPTER 10A ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES

Article 94A

Anti-Corruption Measures ......................................................................... 49

[Chapter 10A, comprising Article 94A, is inserted by the Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010.]

CHAPTER 10B ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF NAMIBIA

Article 94B

Electoral Commission of Namibia............................................................. 50

[Chapter 10B, comprising Article 94B, is inserted by the Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

CHAPTER 11 PRINCIPLES OF STATE POLICY

Republic of Namibia 5 Annotated Statutes Namibian Constitution

Article 95 Article 96 Article 97 Article 98 Article 99 Article 100 Article 101

Promotion of the Welfare of the People .................................................... 51 Foreign Relations ....................................................................................... 52 Asylum....................................................................................................... 52 Principles of Economic Order.................................................................... 52 Foreign Investments................................................................................... 53 Sovereign Ownership of Natural Resources .............................................. 53 Application of the Principles contained in this Chapter ............................ 53

CHAPTER 12 REGIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMNET

[The word "GOVERNMENT" is misspelt in the Government Gazette, as reproduced above.]

Article 102

Structures of Regional and Local Government.......................................... 53

Article 103

Establishment of Regional Councils.......................................................... 54

Article 104

Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission........................... 54

[The heading of Article 104 is substituted by the

Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

Article 105

Composition of Regional Councils............................................................ 54

Article 106

Regional Council Elections ....................................................................... 54

Article 107

Remuneration and Allowances and Other Benefits of

Members of Regional Councils.......................................................... 55

[The heading of Article 107 is amended by the

Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010.]

Article 108

Powers of Regional Councils..................................................................... 55

Article 109

Management Committees .......................................................................... 55

Article 110

Administration and Functioning of Regional Councils ............................. 56

Article 110A

Regional Governors ................................................................................... 56

[Article 110A is inserted by the Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

Article 111

Local Authorities ....................................................................................... 57

CHAPTER 13

Article 112 Article 113

THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Establishment............................................................................................. 57 Functions.................................................................................................... 58

CHAPTER 14 Article 114

THE SECURITY COMMISSION Establishment and Functions ..................................................................... 58

CHAPTER 15

THE DEFENCE FORCE, THE POLICE FORCE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICE

[Chapter 15, comprising Articles 115-123, is substituted by the Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010. The heading of Chapter 15 is substituted by the Namibian Constitution

Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010 and by the Namibian Constitution Third Amendment Act 8 of 2014.]

Article 115 Article 116 Article 117 Article 118

Establishment of the Defence Force .......................................................... 59 Chief of the Defence Force ........................................................................ 59 Removal of the Chief of the Defence Force .............................................. 60 Establishment of the Police Force ............................................................. 60

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