Namibia is a dominant-party state with the South-West Africa People's Organisation in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. In Namibian politics, ethnicity plays a significant role in party affiliation and voting behaviour. Some parties are dominated by single ethnic groups; SWAPO itself, its government, and administration, is pre-dominantly Ovambo.
Parties with parliamentary seats Parties with seats in the National Assembly of Namibia after the 2024 elections are:
Party Abbr. Leader Political position Ideology Council Assembly South West Africa People’s Organisation SWAPOSWAVO Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Centre-left Socialism with Namibian characteristics Independent Patriots for Change IPC Panduleni Itula Grassroots democracy Affirmative Repositioning AR Job Amupanda Left-wing Marxism-LeninismPan-Africanism Popular Democratic Movement PDM McHenry Venaani Centre-right ConservatismEconomic liberalism Landless People's Movement LPM Bernadus Swartbooi Centre-leftto left-wing Social democracyProgressivismLand reformEnvironmentalism United Democratic Front UDF Apius Auchab Damara interests Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters NEFF Epafras Mukwiilongo Far-left Marxism–LeninismPan-AfricanismAnti-capitalism South West Africa National Union SWANU Tangeni Iiyambo Left-wing Democratic socialismLeft-wing nationalism Republican Party RP Henk Mudge Right-wing ConservatismChristian democracy National Unity Democratic Organisation NUDO Esther Muinjangue Centre-right Herero interests All People's Party APP Ignatius Shixwameni Centre-left Social democracy National Democratic Party NDP Martin Lukato Body of Christ Party BCP Festus Thomas Right-wing Christian democracy
Unrepresented parties The following parties contested the 2019 or 2024 parliamentary elections but did not gain a seat, in the order of votes obtained:
Action Democratic Movement Party (ADM): took part in the 2024 Namibian general election and received 2,286 votes (0.21%). The interim party president is Vincent Kanyetu, who was previously secretary general of the All People's Party (APP) and before that of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA).ADM joins crowded electoral brawl. New Era, 5 July 2024. Christian Democratic Voice (CDV) Congress of Democrats (CoD) National Empowerment Fighting Corruption (NEFC) National Patriotic Front (NPF) Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) United People's Movement (UPM) Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP)
Parties of local relevance
The following parties did not contest the 2019 general elections but took part in the 2020 local authority election, and gained seats: Gobabis Residents' Association, 1 seat in Gobabis Karibib Ratepayers Association, 1 seat in Karibib Monitor Action Group, 1 seat in Outjo Okahandja Rate Payers Association, 1 seat in Okahandja Omaruru Community Development Association, 1 seat in Omaruru Rehoboth Independent Town Management Association, 1 seat in Rehoboth United People's Movement (UPM), 1 seat in Rehoboth Rundu Concerned Citizens Association, 1 seat in Rundu Rundu Urban Community Association, 1 seat in Rundu Swakopmund Residents Association, 2 seats in Swakopmund Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association, 1 seat in Walvis Bay
Defunct parties
National parties Communist Party of Namibia Democratic Action for Namas Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) Namibia African People's Democratic Organisation Namibian Democratic Movement for Change National Progressive Party Rehoboth Volksparty Riemvasmaak United Party United Nama Independence People's Party United Namib Independence Party United Namibia People's Party
Local parties Civic Association of Henties Bay
Banned parties United Democratic Party
References