Afrobarometer: Namibia’s democracy under the spotlight
Many political parties preferred
Namibians want to be spoiled for choice when it comes to political parties so that they can decide their own political future.
A majority of Namibians say it does not matter if one political party always wins elections and continuously governs the country, so long as the elections are free and fair, a recent Afrobarometer survey indicates.
A sizeable minority, however, believes it’s good for a democracy if power changes hands via elections from time to time.
“A significant minority (39%) believe it is better in a democracy if power sometimes changes hands in elections from one political party to another. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of citizens say the country needs many political parties to give voters real choices in who governs them, while 25% believe political parties create division and confusion,” the report states.
Democratic views
Majorities, as the recently released report noted, say democracy is preferable to any other kind of political system, that Namibia needs many political parties to ensure voter choice and that the country has a well-functioning democracy.
“Despite widespread support for democracy, a slim majority of Namibians believe it is legitimate for the armed forces to take control of government if elected leaders abuse power for their own interests,” the report states.
About six in 10 Namibians say democracy is preferable to any other political system of governance.
“Stronger majorities reject military rule (68%), one-man rule (73%), and one-party rule (80%). About seven in 10 citizens (69%) describe the country as 'a full democracy' (30%) or 'a democracy with minor problems (39%)', an 11-percentage-point decline compared to Afrobarometer’s first survey in Namibia in 1999.
About 55% say they are “fairly satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way democracy is working in the country, while 43% express little or no satisfaction.
The survey also found that "more than half (53%) of Namibians say it is legitimate for the armed forces to take control of government if elected leaders abuse power for their own interests, while 38% believe the armed forces should never intervene in politics.”
A sizeable minority, however, believes it’s good for a democracy if power changes hands via elections from time to time.
“A significant minority (39%) believe it is better in a democracy if power sometimes changes hands in elections from one political party to another. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of citizens say the country needs many political parties to give voters real choices in who governs them, while 25% believe political parties create division and confusion,” the report states.
Democratic views
Majorities, as the recently released report noted, say democracy is preferable to any other kind of political system, that Namibia needs many political parties to ensure voter choice and that the country has a well-functioning democracy.
“Despite widespread support for democracy, a slim majority of Namibians believe it is legitimate for the armed forces to take control of government if elected leaders abuse power for their own interests,” the report states.
About six in 10 Namibians say democracy is preferable to any other political system of governance.
“Stronger majorities reject military rule (68%), one-man rule (73%), and one-party rule (80%). About seven in 10 citizens (69%) describe the country as 'a full democracy' (30%) or 'a democracy with minor problems (39%)', an 11-percentage-point decline compared to Afrobarometer’s first survey in Namibia in 1999.
About 55% say they are “fairly satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the way democracy is working in the country, while 43% express little or no satisfaction.
The survey also found that "more than half (53%) of Namibians say it is legitimate for the armed forces to take control of government if elected leaders abuse power for their own interests, while 38% believe the armed forces should never intervene in politics.”
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