The Myth of Democratic Consolidation in Namibia

This research paper argues that while Namibia has a history of free and fair elections and general public support for democracy, it has not yet achieved full democratic consolidation. The author highlights concerns regarding political violence, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the monopolization of democratic space and resources by the ruling party, SWAPO.

• Public opinion surveys indicate strong support for democracy in Namibia. A 2008 Afro-barometer Round 4 survey and research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that 63% of respondents have consistently supported democracy since 1999, 67% view elections as 'completely free and fair', and a majority (52%) view economic conditions as 'fairly very good'.
• Despite the appearance of stability, there are reports of politically motivated violence between supporters of the ruling party SWAPO and the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP). Such incidents have occurred in Katutura, the Oshikoto region, Outapi, and the Wanaheda informal settlements in Windhoek, leading to some areas being designated as "no-go areas".
• Freedom of expression and access to information are under threat. The author cites the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's (NBC) decision to shut down a morning Chat Show in March as a perceived strategy by the ruling party to limit media freedom before national polls. Previously, in November 2007, the show was restricted to prevent callers from discussing the RDP or SWAPO.
• There is a perceived lack of a level playing field regarding state resources and media airtime. In the 2006-2007 financial year, SWAPO received N$12.5 million out of a total N$16.5 million in state party-political funding. During the last elections, the ruling party received 150 minutes of airtime, while most opposition parties received less than 30 minutes, with the Congress of Democrats (CoD) receiving 31 minutes.
• The author contends that Namibia is a 'developing democracy' rather than a 'fully-fledged' one. This is evidenced by the Namibian Police (NAMPOL) advising parties against door-to-door campaigns for fear of violence, which the author suggests contradicts Article (17) of the Constitution regarding the right to participate in political activities.

APA

Mbadlanyana, T. (n.d.). The Myth of Democratic Consolidation in Namibia. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-myth-of-democratic-consolidation-in-namibia

Chicago

Mbadlanyana, Thembani. The Myth of Democratic Consolidation in Namibia. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-myth-of-democratic-consolidation-in-namibia.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mbadlanyana |first1=Thembani |title=The Myth of Democratic Consolidation in Namibia |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-myth-of-democratic-consolidation-in-namibia |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mbadlanyanandmyth, author = {Mbadlanyana, Thembani}, title = {{The Myth of Democratic Consolidation in Namibia}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-myth-of-democratic-consolidation-in-namibia}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }