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Namibia, after a long struggle for independence, finally became free on March 21, 1990. On that day the country was declared a republic and came to be known as the Republic of Namibia. The Namibia constitution was adopted on February 1990 by the constituent assembly of Namibia. The constitution came into force on the independence day of Namibia. Implementation of the Namibia Constitution took place according to the provisions laid down in Schedule 7 of the constitution.
The first and foremost part of the constitution of Namibia is the Preamble. The Preamble states that the people of the nation are provided with various rights which will be maintained and safeguarded in a democratic social set up. It also lays down that the government, elected by the people, will function under the sovereignty of the constitution and an independent judicial system. The preamble also sets down the duties of the countrymen towards their country and that the people of Namibia accept the Namibia constitution as the supreme law of the land.
The Namibian constitution is divided into 21 chapters starting from after the Preamble. A total of 148 Articles are grouped into the 21 chapters of the Namibia constitution. Besides the 148 articles the constitution comprises 8 Schedules. Covering every governmental, political, judicial and administrative aspect of the country Namibia's constitution deals with the establishment of Namibian Republic, the national symbols, language, the citizenship of the country, Fundamental Rights, national emergencies, the President, Prime minister, the Cabinet, National Assembly, National Council, Judiciary, Finance, Banking etc.
Till date the Namibia constitution has undergone only one amendment which came to be known as the Namibian Constitution First Amendment Act, 1998. Under this amendment act Article 134 of the constitution of Namibia was amended. Serving as the sovereign law of the Republic of Namibia, the Namibia constitution provides a comprehensive information on every aspect of the country.
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