The Nambian Constitution @ 35 Years: Between legacy and lodestone

From 14 to 15 August 2025, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in collaboration with the University of Namibia (UNAM) – School of Law and the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL) hosted a 2-day conference to celebrate the 35th year of constitutional democracy which Namibia has traversed, while the life expectancy of a national constitution is 19 years globally and extends to 32 years in Europe, and diminishes to 10 years in Africa. Opening the conference, the Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Dr. Saara Kuungogelwa-Amadhila noted that “The Namibian constitution is not merely a legal document, it is our nation’s moral compass, the embodiment of our shared vision for peace, unity, justice, and prosperity. It is fitting to begin by acknowledging our progress, for indeed, we have come a long way.” The Resident Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Anna Hoffmann-Kwanga postulated that, “This conference offers an ideal space to celebrate Namibia’s 35 years of constitutional democracy. Moreover, it is a platform for intellectual discussions on the constitution, to analyse it and investigate areas for possible reforms. As KAS, we are grateful for your participation”. The conference included a panel of eminent members of the Constituent Assembly who shared with the audience some of the intricacies and challenges at the time of drafting the Namibian Constitution. 42 conference papers on different themes were received and presented at the conference ranging participants from India and South Africa. The conference was well received and ended on a high note.