At stake in this election:     

• 96 seats in Namibia’s National Assembly *

* A recent electoral law increased the number of seats to 96 from 72.[i]

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005) *
• Head of Government: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 21 March 2005)
• Assembly: Namibia has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the National Council with 26 seats and the National Assembly with 78 seats.

* The President is both Chief of State and Head of Government

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by plurality vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the National Council 26 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 6-year terms.* In the National Assembly, 96 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms and 6 non-voting members are appointed by the president.**

* Two members are chosen from each of the 13 regional councils by members of those councils.

** There are 13 multi-member constituencies corresponding to Namibia's regions.

Election Note:

On Friday 28 November 2014, Namibia will hold an election for the National Assembly.[i] It is the fifth election since independence. The ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) has “been in power since independence in 1990.”[ii]

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)
  • Leader: Hifikepunye POHAMBA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 54
• Party: Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)
  • Leader: Hidipo HAMUTENYA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 8
• Party: Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia (DTA of Namibia)
  • Leader: McHenry VENAANI
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 2
• Party: National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO)
  • Leader: Kuaima RIRUAKO
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0
• Party: United Democratic Front (UDF)
  • Leader: Justus GAROEB
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 2
• Party: All People's Party (APP)
  • Leader: Ignatius SHIXWAMENI
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: Republican Party (RP)
  • Leader: Henk MUDGE
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: Congress of Democrats (COD)
  • Leader: Benjamin ULENGA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: South West Africa National Union (SWANU)
  • Leader: Usutuaije MAAMBERUA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: Monitor Action Group (MAG)
  • Leader: Jurgie VILJOEN
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0

Last election:

• The last election to the National Assembly in Namibia was held on 26-27 November 2009.[iii] There were 811,143 registered voters.[iv] The ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) won 75.3 percent of the vote or 54 seats in the National Assembly, while Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) won 11.3 percent or 8 seats.[v] Results can be found here.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 2,198,406 (July 2014 est)[vi]
• Registered Voters: 1,241,194 (November 2014)[vii]

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 1,088,808 (July 2014 est)[i]
• Is Namibia a signatory to CEDAW: No.[ii]
• Has Namibia ratified CEDAW: Yes (23 November 1992)[iii]
• Gender Quota:  Yes. a.) Legislated Candidate Quota (sub-national level): “In the election of any local authority council with 10 or less members, party lists must include at least 3 female persons.” b.) Voluntary Political Party Quota: South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) “has a 50 percent quota with a zebra-system.[iv]
• Female Candidates in this election: N/A
• Number of Female Legislators: 19 (24%) of 72 seats in the National Assembly[v]
• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 127[vi]
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Ranking: 21^st out of 86 non-OECD countries (latest rankings are from 2012)[vii]