Political Finance Database

141. (1) Any - (a) registered political party or registered organisation; (b) member of a registered party or registered organisation; or (c) other person, may receive within Namibia, or bring or cause to be brought into Namibia, any money or anything which can be cashed or converted into money, from any foreign person or foreign institution which is within or outside Namibia or represented locally in Namibia, which on the ground of a donation or on any other ground, is intended to be used, or in the discretion of the political party, organisation, member or other person may be used, to - (i) further the interest of any political party or organisation or the candidature of himself or herself or any other person who has been nominated or may be nominated as a candidate for any election under this Act; or (ii) to canvass or combat any aim or principle of a political party or organisation, but any such donation is disclosed in the prescribed manner and the total donation amount that the registered political party, registered organisation, member or person can receive may not exceed a prescribed amount in a financial year.

141. (1) Any - (a) registered political party or registered organisation; (b) member of a registered party or registered organisation; or (c) other person, may receive within Namibia, or bring or cause to be brought into Namibia, any money or anything which can be cashed or converted into money, from any foreign person or foreign institution which is within or outside Namibia or represented locally in Namibia, which on the ground of a donation or on any other ground, is intended to be used, or in the discretion of the political party, organisation, member or other person may be used, to - (i) further the interest of any political party or organisation or the candidature of himself or herself or any other person who has been nominated or may be nominated as a candidate for any election under this Act; or (ii) to canvass or combat any aim or principle of a political party or organisation, but any such donation is disclosed in the prescribed manner and the total donation amount that the registered political party, registered organisation, member or person can receive may not exceed a prescribed amount in a financial year.

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on corporate donations to political parties. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on corporate donations to candidates. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates.  

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention anonymous sources at all. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention anonymous sources at all. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on corporations with partial government contracts to political parties. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any ban on corporations with partial government contracts to candidates. 

The section 154 of the Act specifies, that the funds allocated to a political party may not be used directly or indirectly for the purposes of paying any remuneration, fee, reward, perquisite or other benefit to any person (i) representing the political party in Parliament, any regional council or local authority council; or (ii) who holds any other office of profit at any institution.

However, Section 141 of the Electoral Act states that donations may not exceed a prescribed amount in a financial year, and if they do, parties must disclose to the public within the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner and subject to the prescribed conditions the donations concerned.

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own campaign. 

Explicitly banned. However, the provision in Section 157 of the Act relates only to moneys allocated from the National Assembly fund, that may not be used directly or indirectly for the purpose of establishing any business or acquiring or maintaining any right or financial interest whatsoever in any business, or in any immovable property, except if the right or interest in the immovable property is to be used by the party solely for party-political purposes.

Funding of political parties

154. (1) In this Part “political party” means a political party represented in Parliament. (2) The National Assembly must fund political parties with monies appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.

Funding of political parties

154. (1) In this Part “political party” means a political party represented in Parliament.

However, Section 157 of the Act defines that funds allocated to a political party may not be used - (a) directly or indirectly for the purposes of paying any remuneration, fee, reward, perquisite or other benefit to any person - (i) representing the political party in Parliament, any regional council or local authority council; or (ii) who holds any other office of profit at any institution; (b) with a view to financing or contributing to any matter, cause, event or occasion, whether directly or indirectly, in contravention of any code of ethics binding on the members of Parliament or regional councils or local authority councils; (c) directly or indirectly for the purpose of establishing any business or acquiring or maintaining any right or financial interest whatsoever in any business, or in any immovable property, except if the right or interest in the immovable property is to be used by the party solely for party-political purposes; (d) for any other purpose that is incompatible with a political party’s functioning in a modern democracy, as may be prescribed; and (e) for any act which is contrary to the Namibian Constitution or any other law.

"In regards to equality in party airtime provision, there is a policy on equal time allocation by the national public broadcaster, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for all political parties. The number of broadcasts received by each party depends on the number of parties registered for the elections combined with the number of broadcasting slots the NBC makes available. In this regard, each party has been allocated five (5) minutes per week whereby they record their information for five minutes which is aired two days later for five minutes. In addition to this free airtime, parties are free to purchase additional airtime from the NBC for further broadcasts."

"In regards to equality in party airtime provision, there is a policy on equal time allocation by the national public broadcaster, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for all political parties. The number of broadcasts received by each party depends on the number of parties registered for the elections combined with the number of broadcasting slots the NBC makes available. In this regard, each party has been allocated five (5) minutes per week whereby they record their information for five minutes which is aired two days later for five minutes. In addition to this free airtime, parties are free to purchase additional airtime from the NBC for further broadcasts. The PAM team noted that the equal time allocation by the NBC had been adhered to. Appreciating the new policy on equal airtime on television and radio, the EISA PAM would also like to note that the airtime allocated to the political parties is not adequate" (EISA 2014: 12).

The Commonwealth Report states, however, that some kind of unequality has been present in the media coverage during the last presidential and general election in 2014.

The provisions for free access to media applies to political parties and not candidates. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any other form of indirect public funding. 

"The new Electoral Act (Act 5 of 2014) in Namibia does not provide for gender representation or equality. In the absence of these deliberate provisions aimed at ensuring gender equality at the various positions under contestation, political parties are at liberty to decide for themselves on whether to include women in their lists or not."

"The new Electoral Act (Act 5 of 2014) in Namibia does not provide for gender representation or equality. In the absence of these deliberate provisions aimed at ensuring gender equality at the various positions under contestation, political parties are at liberty to decide for themselves on whether to include women in their lists or not."

Mentioned indirectly under the Section 181 (Bribery) of the Act.

181. (1) A person who, whether himself or herself or through an intermediary and whether directly or indirectly - (a) corruptly gives, lends or procures, or agrees to give, lend or procure, or offers, promises, or promises to procure, or promises to endeavour to procure, any money or any other thing, to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person - (i) for the purpose of inducing the voter to record or abstain from recording his or her vote in any election or referendum; or (ii) on account of the fact that the voter has recorded or abstained from recording his or her vote in any election or referendum; (b) makes any gift, loan, offer or promise or effect for the voter, any person on behalf of the voter or any other person any such procurement or enters into any such agreement to or for or with any other person for the purpose of inducing such person to vote for any particular political party, organisation or candidate or for a particular answer in a referendum; (c) upon or in consequence of any gift, loan offer, promise, procurement or agreement, procures or engages or promises or endeavours to procure the vote of any voter in the election or referendum; (d) corruptly advances or pays, or causes to be advanced or paid, any money, to or for the use of, any other person with the intention that the money, or any part thereof, is to be expended on bribery in the election or referendum concerned, or who knowingly pays, or causes to be paid, any money or any other person in discharge or repayment of any money which has in full or in part been expended in bribery in the election or referendum; (e) before or during the election or referendum concerned, receives or negotiates any payment or loan on his or her own behalf or any other person in consideration for his or her voting or his or her agreeing to vote in the election or referendum or his or her abstaining from voting, or his or her agreeing to abstain from voting in the election or referendum; or (f) after the election or referendum has received any money on account of the fact that any other person - (i) has recorded his or her vote or has abstained from recording his or her vote in the election or referendum; or (ii) has induced any further person to record or to abstain from recording his or her vote in the election or referendum, commits an offence.

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any spending limits for political parties. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any spending limits for candidates. 

"In addition to this free airtime, parties are free to purchase additional airtime from the NBC for further broadcasts." 

A registered political party must submit annualy to the Electoral Commission of Namibia a declaration of assets and liabilities, which must, among others, state the sources of funds and other assets of the party. Every registered political party must also maintain at its head office an accurate and permanently maintained record consisting of any contribution, donation or pledge of contributions or donations, whether in cash or in kind made to the political party; a statement of its accounts, showing the sources of its funds and the name of every person who has contributed to the funds, including contributions by persons who are not citizens of Namibia, membership dues paid, donations in cash or in kind; and all the financial transactions of the political party which are conducted through, by or with the head or national office of the political party. And a registered political party must cause its financial accounts to be audited once per year, but not later than six months after the end of its financial year, by an auditor. lodge with the Commission a copy of the audited accounts referred to in subsection (3) within six months from the end of its financial year; and (b) publish or cause an abridged version of the accounts to be published in at least two daily newspapers circulating throughout Namibia. The Electoral Act also states, that once every year, the political parties, organisations, members and persons referred to in subsection (1) must in the prescribed manner submit to the Commission details regarding all donations received by such entities or persons (Sections 139-141 of the Electoral Act 5 of 2014).

Sometimes. Despite there is no specific law in Namibia that deals with campaign funds for parties, Article 141 of the Act allows for funds received from foreign donations to be used to for party and candidate campaigns provided that the donations are disclosed in the prescribed manner and that the total donation amount may not exceed a prescribed amount in a financial year. 

The Electoral Act 5 of 2014 does not mention any requirements for candidates to report on their campaign finances. 

Section 141 of the Act states this applies only for an amount of income of a registered political party which exceeds a prescribed amount in a financial year.

Section 140 of the Act states that financial records of a registered political party must include, among others, the name of every person who has contributed to the funds of the party.

This applies to political parties only. Section 140 of the Act states that financial records of a registered political party must include, among other statement of its accounts, showing the sources of its funds and the name of every person who has contributed to the funds, including (i) contributions by persons who are not citizens of Namibia; (ii) membership dues paid; (iii) donations in cash or in kind; and (iv) all the financial transactions of the political party which are conducted through, by or with the head or national office of the political party.

Section 140 of the Act states that financial records of a registered political party must include, among other statement of its accounts, showing all the financial transactions of the political party which are conducted through, by or with the head or national office of the political party.

EMB = Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

Internally, every registered party must have an account-officer. Another institution is the auditor. The final instance is the Electoral Commission (Section 158 of the Act).