At stake in this election:      

• The office of President of Namibia

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, 72 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 President.[i] According to Namibia’s Constitution, if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be required.[ii]

Main candidates in the electoral race:

• Candidate: Hage GEINGOB
  • Party: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) *
• Candidate: Hidipo HAMUTENYA
  • Party: Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)
• Candidate: McHenry VENAANI
  • Party: Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA)
• Candidate: Asser MBAI
  • Party: National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO)
• Candidate: Ignatius Nkotongo SHIXWAMENI
  • Party: All People's Party (APP)
• Candidate: Henk Ferdinand MUDGE
  • Party: Republican Party (RP)
• Candidate: Benjamin ULENGA
  • Party: Congress of Democrats (COD)
• Candidate: Usutuaije MAAMBERUA
  • Party: South West Africa National Union (SWANU)
• Candidate: Epafras Jan MUKWILONGO
  • Party: Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF)

* President POHAMBA cannot run in the November 2014 election due to term limits

Last election:

• The last election for president of Namibia was held on 27 November 2009.[iii] There were 812,233 registered voters.[iv] Hifikepunye POHAMBA of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organizations (SWAPO) won with 611,241 votes or 75.25 percent of the vote.[v] Hidipo HAMUTENYA of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) came in second with 88,640 votes or 10.91 percent of the vote.[vi] Results can be found here.

Population and number of registered voters:

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

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: 0.
• 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]