As Namibia joins the rest of Africa in commemorating African Decentralisation Day on 10 August, it is an opportune moment to reflect on how far the country has come in bringing government closer to the people.
Decentralisation, a cornerstone of Namibian democracy since independence, aims to shift power, responsibilities, and resources from the central government to regional and local authorities for more responsive governance. Over two decades after this policy was introduced, questions still exist about whether the vision of true local autonomy and grassroots development has been achieved.
Namibia’s commitment to decentralised governance is enshrined in its constitution. Chapter 12 of the Constitution establishes a system of regional and local government, requiring Parliament to pass laws to implement decentralisation.
Accordingly, the Regional Councils Act (1992) and Local Authorities Act (1992) created elected councils at regional and local levels, laying the foundation for a three-tier government structure as envisioned by the Constitution. However, the real breakthrough came with the National Decentralisation Policy of 1998, which provided a framework “to devolve certain agreed responsibilities, functions and resources” to sub-national bodies within our unitary state.
To give the policy legal authority, the Decentralisation Enabling Act of 2000 was enacted, defining how powers would be transferred from central ministries to regional and local authorities. The Act highlighted two phases: delegation (where a function is transferred to a local authority as an agent of the central ministry) and devolution (where the function and its resources are permanently transferred). It also reinforced the principle that “every function that is decentralised should be followed by resources and personnel,” a wise safeguard designed to prevent unfunded mandates.
Decentralisation in Namibia was never meant as a mere administrative reshuffle; it was envisioned as a vehicle for democracy, development, and unity. When the then Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, late Dr. Nickey Iyambo, presented the Decentralisation Policy in Parliament, he eloquently captured this ethos.
He reminded lawmakers that the Constitution’s provision for regional and local government “should not be seen as merely requiring decentralisation, but also demanding the type of decentralisation that extends democracy and participation for development to the furthest corners of our country and to the humblest citizens.” This powerful statement by Dr. Iyambo himself, a key architect of the policy, speaks to the spirit behind the law. Devolution was meant to deepen democratic participation and ensure that even marginalised communities have a voice in governance.
Namibia has made notable progress in decentralising governance over the years, bringing services closer to the people. The institutional framework is well-established, with 14 regional councils and 57 local authorities operating nationwide to serve local communities effectively.
Several ministries have been pioneers in this process. For instance, the ministry of education, arts and culture has fully operational regional directorates in all 14 regions, effectively placing education services under regional councils’ jurisdiction.
The Ministry of Works and Transport, among others, has also shown strong support for decentralisation. Each year, more functions are prepared for transfer to regional and local authorities. These are encouraging developments. Additionally, public awareness and support for decentralised governance have increased, and it is now widely understood that local governments are critical for service delivery and development planning.
A major challenge in realising devolution has been the mismatch between responsibilities assigned to local bodies and the resources allocated to them. At times, decentralisation in Namibia has suffered from being “authority without means,” effectively setting up sub-national governments to fail.
The Decentralisation Enabling Act rightly mandates that functions be accompanied by necessary funding and personnel, yet this is often not fulfilled in practice. Transferring a function on paper is futile if the regional or local authorities responsible lack the budget or skilled staff needed to manage it.
Local authorities, in particular, face capacity constraints. Skilled personnel are difficult to attract to remote towns and villages on limited salaries, and training opportunities are scarce. Namibia’s local authorities are expected to drive development and safeguard citizens’ welfare, but they lack the reliable financial resources to do so.
This results in a growing disconnect between their assigned responsibilities and their actual capacity to deliver services—a gap felt keenly by ordinary citizens when roads go unrepaired, water supplies run dry, or housing backlogs increase.
To realise the promise of decentralisation, Namibia’s policymakers must now act decisively. The President and Cabinet should consistently emphasise decentralisation as a national priority—not just during annual celebrations but in everyday governance.
This involves encouraging innovation at the local level and being tolerant of the learning curve that comes with devolving authority. While local governments may make mistakes, so do central authorities. The solution is to support and supervise, not to withdraw powers.
The framework is in place; now, authority must be matched with resources, and political will with effective policy. The central government must ensure that regional and local authorities have the funding, skilled personnel, and technical capacity needed to fulfill their mandates.
Additionally, firm timelines should be established for devolving remaining functions, and line ministries must be held accountable for genuinely empowering local authorities. Dr. Iyambo’s vision of democratic participation reaching the “furthest corner” of Namibia will only be realised when decentralisation is backed by adequate resources and support, rather than remaining an empty promise.
By adhering to the principle that funding must follow function and truly empowering sub-national governments, Namibia can finally realise the goal of more responsive, inclusive governance for all its citizens.
*Emilia N Nanyeni is a legal consultant with over 15 years’ experience in local government.