The Constitution of The Republic of Namibia

1 The ConstitutionofThe Republic of Namibia -1-The Constitution of the Republic of NamibiaTable of ContentsPagePREAMBLE ..5 CHAPTER 1 THE 1 Establishment of the Republic of Namibia and identification of its Territory Article 2 National Symbols Article 3 LanguageCHAPTER 2 4 Acquisition and Loss of CitizenshipCHAPTER 3 FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND 5 Protection of Fundamental Rights and FreedomsArticle 6 Protection of LifeArticle 7 Protection of LibertyArticle 8 Respect for Human DignityArticle 9 Slavery and Forced LabourArticle 10 Equality and Freedom from DiscriminationArticle 11 Arrest and DetentionArticle 12 Fair

2 TrialArticle 13 PrivacyArticle 14 FamilyArticle 15 Children's Rights Article 16 PropertyArticle 17 Political ActivityArticle 18 Administrative Justice Article 19 CultureArticle 20 EducationArticle 21 Fundamental FreedomsArticle 22 Limitation upon Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Article 23 Apartheid and Affirmative Action Article 24 DerogationArticle 25 Enforcement of Fundamental Rights and FreedomsCHAPTER 4 PUBLIC EMERGENCY, STATE OF NATIONAL DEFENCE AND MARTIAL 26 State of Emergency, State of National Defence and Martial LawCHAPTER 5 THE 27 Head of State and GovernmentArticle 28 ElectionArticle 29 Term of OfficeArticle 30 Oath of AffirmationArticle 31 Immunity from Civil and Criminal ProceedingsArticle 32 Functions.

3 Powers and DutiesArticle 33 Remuneration Article 34 SuccessionCHAPTER 6 THE 35 CompositionArticle 36 Functions of the Prime MinisterArticle 37 Deputy-MinistersArticle 38 Oath or AffirmationArticle 39 Vote of No ConfidenceArticle 40 Duties and FunctionsArticle 41 Ministerial AccountabilityArticle 42 Outside EmploymentArticle 43 Secretary to the CabinetCHAPTER 7 THE NATIONAL 44 Legislative PowerArticle 45 Representative NatureArticle 46 CompositionPage-2-Article 47 DisqualificationArticle 48 Vacation of SeatsArticle 49 ElectionsArticle 50 DurationArticle 51 SpeakerArticle 52 Secretary and other OfficersArticle 53 QuorumArticle 54 Casting VoteArticle 55 Oath or AffirmationArticle 56 Assent to BillsArticle 57 DissolutionArticle 58 Conduct of Business after DissolutionArticle 59 Rules of Procedure, Committees and Standing OrdersArticle 60 Duties.

4 Privileges and Immunities of MembersArticle 61 Public Access to SittingsArticle 62 SessionsArticle 63 Functions and PowersArticle 64 Withholding of Presidential AssentArticle 65 Signature and Enrolment of ActsArticle 66 Customary and Common LawArticle 67 Requisite MajoritiesCHAPTER 8 THE NATIONAL 68 EstablishmentArticle 69 CompositionArticle 70 Term of Office of MembersArticle 71 Oath or AffirmationArticle 72 Qualifications of MembersArticle 73 Chairperson and Vice-ChairpersonArticle 74 Powers and FunctionsArticle 75 Review of Legislation Article 76 Quorum Article 77 VotingCHAPTER 9 THE ADMINISTRATION OF 78 The JudiciaryArticle 79 The Supreme courtArticle 80 The High CourtArticle 81 Binding Nature of Decisions of the Supreme CourtArticle 82 Appointment of JudgesArticle 83 Lower CourtsArticle 84 Removal of Judges from OfficeArticle 85 The Judicial Service CommissionArticle 86 The Attorney-GeneralArticle 87 Powers and Functions of the Attorney-GeneralArticle 88 The

5 Prosecutor-GeneralCHAPTER 10 THE 89 Establishment and IndependenceArticle 90 Appointment and Term of OfficeArticle 91 FunctionsArticle 92 Powers of InvestigationArticle 93 Meaning of "Official"Article 94 Removal from OfficeCHAPTER 11 PRINCIPLES OF STATE 95 Promotion of the Welfare of the PeopleArticle 96 Foreign RelationsArticle 97 AsylumArticle 98 Principles of Economic OrderArticle 99 Foreign InvestmentsArticle 100 Sovereign Ownership of Natural ResourcesArticle 101 Application of the Principles contained in this ChapterCHAPTER 12 REGIONAL AND LOCAL 102 Structures of Regional and Local Government Article 103 Establishment of Regional CouncilsArticle 104 The Delimitation CommissionPage-3-Article 105 Composition of Regional CouncilsArticle 106 Regional Council ElectionsArticle 107 Remuneration of Members of Regional CouncilsArticle 108 Powers of Regional CouncilsArticle 109 Management CommitteesArticle 110 Administration and Functioning of Regional Councils Article 111 Local AuthoritiesCHAPTER 13 THE PUBLIC SERVICE 112 EstablishmentArticle

6 113 FunctionsCHAPTER 14 THE SECURITY 114 Establishment and FunctionsCHAPTER 15 THE POLICE AND DEFENCE FORCES AND THE PRISON 115 Establishment of the Police ForceArticle 116 The inspector-General of PoliceArticle 117 Removal of the inspector-General of PoliceArticle 118 Establishment of the Defence ForceArticle 119 Chief of the Defence ForceArticle 120 Removal of the Chief of the Defence ForceArticle 121 Establishment of the Prison ServiceArticle 122 Commissioner of PrisonsArticle 123 Removal of Commissioner of PrisonsCHAPTER 16 124 Transfer of Government AssetsArticle 125 The State Revenue fundArticle 126 AppropriationsArticle 127 The Auditor-GeneralCHAPTER 17 CENTRAL BANK AND NATIONAL PLANNING 128 The Central BankArticle 129 The National Planning CommissionCHAPTER 18 COMING INTO FORCE OF THE 130 Coming into Force of the ConstitutionCHAPTER 19 AMENDMENT OF THE 131 Entrenchment of Fundamental Rights and FreedomsArticle 132 Repeal and Amendment of the ConstitutionCHAPTER 20 THE LAW IN FORCE AND TRANSITIONAL 133 The First National AssemblyArticle 134 Election of the First PresidentArticle 135 Implementation of this ConstitutionArticle

7 136 Powers of the Nastional Assembly prior to the Election of a National Council Article 137 Elections of the First Regional Councils and the First National CouncilArticle 138 Courts and Pending ActionsArticle 139 The Judicial Service CommissionArticle 140 The Law in Force at the Date of IndependenceArticle 141 Existing AppointmentsArticle 142 Appointment of the First Chief of the Defence Force, the Firstinspector-General of Police and the first Commissioner of PrisonsArticle 143 Existing International AgreementsCHAPTER 21 FINAL 144 International LawArticle 145 SavingArticle 146 DefinitionsArticle 147 Repeal of LawsArticle 148 Short Title-4-SCHEDULESPageSCHEDULE 1 OATH/AFFIRMATION OF 2 OATH/AFFIRMATION OF MINISTERS AND 3 OATH/AFFIRMATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ANDTHE NATIONAL 4 ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 5 PROPERTY VESTING IN THE GOVERNMENT OF 6 THE NATIONAL FLAG OF THE Republic OF 7 IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS 8 REPEAL OF TO THE

8 CONSTITUTIONN amibian Constitution First Amendment Act, Constitution Second Amendment Act, Constitution Third Amendment Act, recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of allmembers of the human family is indispensable for freedom, justice and peace;Whereas the said rights include the right of the individual to life, liberty and the pursuit ofhappiness, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, sex, religion, creed or social or economicstatus;Whereas the said rights are most effectively maintained and protected in a democraticsociety, where the government is responsible to freely elected representatives of the people,operating under a sovereign Constitution and a free and independent judiciary;Whereas these rights have for so long been denied to the people of Namibia by colonialism,racism and apartheid;Whereas we the people of Namibia -have finally emerged victorious in our struggle against colonialism, racismand apartheid.

9 Are determined to adopt a Constitution which expresses for ourselves andour children our resolve to cherish and to protect the gains of our longstruggle;desire to promote amongst all of us the dignity of the individual and the unityand integrity of the namibian nation among and in association with thenations of the world;will strive to achieve national reconciliation and to foster peace, unity and acommon loyalty to a single state;committed to these principles, have resolved to constitute the Republic ofNamibia as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State securing toall our citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity,Now therefore, we the people of Namibia accept and adopt this Constitution as thefundamental law of our Sovereign and Independent of Contents-6-CHAPTER 1 The RepublicArticle 1 Establishment of the Republic of Namibi