Constitution: ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990); note—the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Sam NUJOMA (since 21 March 1990);
note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 7-8 December 1994 (next to be held NA December
1999)
election results: Sam NUJOMA elected president; percent of vote—76%
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the
National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each
regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly
(72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: National Council—last held 30 November-1 December 1998
(next to be held by December 2004); National Assembly—last held 7-8
December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999)
election results: National Council—percent of vote by party—NA;
seats by party—NA; National Assembly—percent of vote by party—SWAPO
73.89%, DTA 20.78%, UDF 2.72%, DCN 0.83%, MAG 0.82%; seats by
party—SWAPO 53, DTA 15, UDF 2, MAG 1, DCN 1
note: the National Council is a purely advisory body
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: South West Africa People's
KATJIUONGUA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU,
MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Usko SHIVUTE chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009