CHAPTER 1
The Republic
|
Article
1 - Establishment of the Republic of Namibia and Identification
of its Territory |
| (1) |
The Republic of
Namibia is hereby established as a sovereign, secular, democratic
and unitary State founded upon the principles of democracy, the
rule of law and justice for all. |
| (2) |
All power shall
vest in the people of Namibia who shall exercise their sovereignty
through the democratic institutions of the State. |
| (3) |
The main organs
of the State shall be the Executive, the Legislature and the
Judiciary. |
| (4) |
The national territory
of Namibia shall consist of the whole of the territory recognised
by the international community through the organs of the United
Nations as Namibia, including the enclave, harbour and port of
Walvis Bay, as well as the off-shore islands of Namibia, and
its southern boundary shall extend to the middle of the Orange
River. |
| (5) |
Windhoek shall be
the seat of central Government |
| (6) |
This Constitution
shall be the Supreme Law of Namibia. |
Article
2 - National Symbols |
| (1) |
Namibia shall have
a National Flag, the description of which is set out in Schedule
6 hereof. |
| (2) |
Namibia shall have
a National Coat of Arms, a National Anthem and a National Seal
to be determined by Act of Parliament, which shall require a
two-thirds majority of all the members of the National Assembly
for adoption and amendment. |
| (3) |
(a) |
The National Seal
of the Republic of Namibia shall show the Coat of Arms circumscribed
with the word "NAMIBIA" and the motto of the country,
which shall be determined by Act of Parliament as aforesaid. |
| |
(b) |
The National Seal
shall be in the custody of the President or such person whom
the President may designate for such purpose and shall be used
on such official documents as the President may determine. |
Article
3 - Language |
| (1) |
The official language
of Namibia shall be English. |
| (2) |
Nothing contained
in this Constitution shall prohibit the use of any other language
as a medium of instruction in private schools or in schools financed
or subsidised by the State, subject to compliance with such requirements
as may be imposed by law, to ensure proficiency in the official
language, or for pedagogic reasons. |
| (3) |
Nothing contained
in Sub-Article (1) hereof shall preclude legislation by Parliament
which permits the use of a language other than English for legislative,
administrative and judicial purposes in regions or areas where
such other language or languages are spoken by a substantial
component of the population. |