Political situation Signs of political change

    Namibia is a stable democracy; since independence, it has held free and fair elections. SWAPO – a party that emerged from the “South West Africa People's Organisation” independence movement – has been in power since 1990.

    View of Namibian capital Windhoek

    View of Namibian capital Windhoek

    SWAPO suffered significant losses in the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2019, and in the local and regional council elections in 2020. They remained the strongest party, but the opposition made major gains. The next parliamentary and presidential elections will take place at the end of 2024.

    Human rights are broadly respected in Namibia, and judicial independence is guaranteed. The 2023 World Press Freedom Index (External link) compiled by the non-governmental organisation Reporters Without Borders ranked Namibia 22nd out of 180 countries evaluated – the highest ranking of any African nation. The level of corruption is also comparatively low: the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (External link) compiled by Transparency International ranked Namibia 59th out of 180 countries (the 6th highest ranking in Africa, behind the Seychelles, Cape Verde, Botswana, Mauritius and Rwanda).

    Aspiring to become an industrialised country

    In its long-term development strategy “Vision 2030 (External link)” and its national development plans, the Namibian government has set itself the target of achieving the standard of living of an industrialised country by the year 2030. The current development plan focuses on structural change and modernisation, and is based on four pillars: economic development, social transformation, environmental sustainability and good governance.

    In March 2021, President Hage Geingob presented the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (External link) (2021-2025) to reinvigorate the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the Plan is on creating new jobs, encouraging investment and implementing strategically important projects. Future projects include the production of “green” hydrogen and ammonia for export. The Plan also represents the government’s response to key social challenges. Among other things, it aims to improve the conditions in informal settlements and combat gender-based violence.

    As at: 27/05/2022