Who runs local government in Namibia?
Namibia has two levels of elected subnational government: 14 regional councils and 57 local authorities (municipalities, towns and villages). A regional governor appointed by the President sits above each regional council. Recognised traditional authorities run customary affairs in communal areas and play a formal part in allocating communal land.
Republic of Namibia · Unitary presidential republic · Southern Africa
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Regions (14) | Regional councillors directly elected, one per constituency; governor appointed by the President | Regional development planning, some services; each council also elects members to the National Council (upper house of Parliament). |
| Constituencies (121 in 2021) | Each elects one regional councillor | Electoral and administrative areas, not separate governments. |
| Local authorities (57: 13 municipalities, 26 towns, 18 villages) | Councils of 7–15 members elected from party lists; council elects a mayor (or chair in villages) | Water, electricity distribution, land and housing, roads and waste in urban areas. |
Three questions about local power in Namibia
Are local leaders elected?
Regional councillors and local authority councillors are elected. Regional governors are appointed by the President. Traditional leaders are chosen by their communities under custom and then recognised by government.
Which laws set up local government?
Regions, local authorities, the Council of Traditional Leaders and recognised traditional authorities are all in the Constitution or statute. Unrecognised groups and customary practices inside communities are informal.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Councillors face voters every five years. Governors answer to the President. Traditional authorities answer to their communities and to the ministry, which can withhold recognition; their land decisions are checked by land boards.
Traditional and customary authority
Article 102 of the Constitution creates a Council of Traditional Leaders to advise the President on communal land and other matters. The Traditional Authorities Act 2000 lets government recognise traditional authorities (chiefs or kings and their councils). Under the Communal Land Reform Act 2002, chiefs or traditional authorities allocate customary land rights in communal areas, and these must be ratified by regional communal land boards. Traditional leaders also hear disputes under customary law in community courts.
Community and neighbourhood power
Constituency Development Committees bring together regional councillors, traditional authorities, NGOs, community groups, women, youth and people with disabilities to plan local development. Village and settlement committees operate below them.
Points to know
- Since a 2010 change the President appoints regional governors, who were previously elected by regional councils.
- Regional councils elect Namibia's upper house, the National Council, linking local and national politics.
- The President decides whether a village can be upgraded to a town or municipality, based on its capacity and money.
Local terms
- Traditional authority
- A chief or king and their council, officially recognised under the Traditional Authorities Act.
- Communal land board
- A regional body that ratifies land rights granted by traditional authorities.
Sources
- Constitution of the Republic of Namibia 1990 (rev. 2014), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Country profile: Namibia (SNG-WOFI, 2022 edition), OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
- The local government system in Namibia: country profile 2017–18, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, checked 14 October 2026
- Electoral Commission of Namibia (official site), Electoral Commission of Namibia, checked 14 October 2026
See also: Namibia's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.