Namibia - CountryWatch

Foreign Relations Political Overview
cial companies operating in Namibia having to turn over more than 40 percent of their shares to
indigenous Namibians.
The Congress of Democrats (CoD), led by Ben Ulenga, was also expected to contest the elections.
The actual dates set for the presidential and parliamentary elections were set for Nov. 27 and 28, 2009.
On those days, there were reports of high voter turnout marked by long lines of voters at polling stations
across Namibia. Meanwhile, a controversy was brewing over the decision by the country's electoral
commission to withdraw the observer status of the National Society for Human Rights in
Namibia. The group has issued strong condemnations of the electoral commission, charging that voters'
roll includes twice-listed constituencies and twice-listed voters, resulting in a discrepancy of about
180,000 voters. The Electoral Commission of Namibia rejected these allegations and accused the
human rights group of being biased and, therefore, incapable of carrying out impartial election monitoring
activities.
Amidst this background, ballot counting was completed and showed that Namibia's ruling SWAPO
party was set to repeat a landslide victory with SWAPO held 74.7 percent of the parliamentary vote. At
the same time, the newly-formed Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) garnered 11.3 percent.
While this result meant that the RDP was the second most powerful party in parliament, the party's
performance at the polls was far less significant than had been earlier anticipated. The National Unity
Democratic Organization (NUDO) garnered 3.2 percent while the DTA of Namibia secured 3.04 percent.
Meanwhile in the presidential race, SWAPO leader and incumbent President Hifikepunye
Pohamba won a second five-year term in office, having acquired garnering 76 percent of the vote
share. Taking 11.1 percent was his main rival -- Hidipo Hamutenya of the RDP.
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Foreign Relations
General Relations
Namibia follows a largely independent foreign policy, with lingering affiliations with states that aided
the independence struggle, including Libya, the People's Republic of China, and Cuba.
Namibia is developing trade and strengthening economic and political ties within the Southern African
region. A dynamic member of the Southern African Development Community and the Southern African
Customs Union, Namibia is a vocal advocate for greater regional integration.
57 Namibia Review 2013