Your question
What questions can I ask
You can ask or complain to the Ombudsman about:
- Alleged violations of fundamental rights and freedoms. 23 - Abuse of power, corruption, manifest injustice, or unlawful, oppressive or unfair conduct by government officials. 23 - Unfair, harsh, insensitive or discourteous treatment by national or local government officials. 23 - Fair administration and equal access to recruitment in the Public Service Commission, state administrative bodies, defence force, police, and correctional service. 23 - Suspected misappropriation of public money by officials. 3 - Environmental concerns, including overuse of natural resources, irrational exploitation of non-renewable resources, ecosystem degradation, and failures to protect Namibia’s natural beauty and character. 2 - Actions or practices by private persons, enterprises or institutions that allegedly violate fundamental rights and freedoms. 2
You may also seek access to information held by public or private entities. The Access to Information Act complements other access procedures and does not limit information normally available to the public; where it conflicts with another access law, the provision more favourable to access prevails. 1
Verified sources
Where this answer comes from
Access to Information Act 8 of 2022
(1) When interpreting this Act, due consideration must be given to the Namibian Constitution, the general principles referred to in section 4, the objects of this Act and the relevant international instruments applicable to Namibia. (2) This Act - (a) is intended to complement and not replace the procedures for access to information existing under any other law; and (b) is not intended to limit in any way access to any type of information under the control of a public or private entity that is normally available to the general public. (3) Unless otherwise provided in this Act, nothing in this Act - (a) limits any other legislation that grants access to information held by a public or private...
Ombudsman Act 7 of 1990
(1) The Ombudsman shall enquire into and investigate in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and take such action or steps as may be prescribed by this Act on, any request or complaint in any instance or matter laid before the Ombudsman in accordance with the provisions of subsection (3) (a) or (b), and concerning - (a) alleged or apparent or threatened instances or matters of violations or infringements of fundamental rights and freedoms, abuse of power, unfair, harsh, insensitive or discourteous treatment of an inhabitant of Namibia by an official in the employ of any organ of Government (whether national or local), manifest injustice, or corruption or conduct by such official which...
Namibian Constitution Second Amendment Act 7 of 2010
paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) of the following paragraphs: “(a) the duty to investigate complaints concerning alleged or apparent instances of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, abuse of power, unfair, harsh, insensitive or discourteous treatment of an inhabitant of Namibia by an official in the employ of any organ of Government (whether central or local), manifest injustice, [or corruption] or conduct by such official which would properly be regarded as unlawful, oppressive or unfair in a democratic society; (b) the duty to investigate complaints concerning the functioning of the Public Service Commission, administrative organs of the State, the defence force, the police force and...
Customs and Excise Act 20 of 1998
after sunset and before sunrise only in the presence of a member of the Namibian Police, break open any door or window, or break through any wall on or in the premises for the purpose of entry and search. (b) An officer referred to in paragraph (a), or any person assisting him or her may at any time break up any ground or floor on or in any premises for the purpose of searching the premises, and if any room, place, safe, chest, container or package in or on the premises is locked and the keys thereof are not produced on demand, may in any manner open such room, place, safe, chest, container or package. (12) An officer may, in the form and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by regul...
Access to Information Act 8 of 2022
(a) subject to Article 13 of the Namibian Constitution, entering and searching any premises, and seizing of any information or material necessary for the execution of his or her mandate in terms of this Act; (b) examining, reproducing, taking extracts from documents or holding information for as long as is necessary, including information found in any premises entered pursuant to paragraph (a); (c) demanding the production of information to which access has been refused on the basis of exempted information under Part 9 for the purpose of deciding whether it is an exempt document; (d) bringing an action in his or her own name before an appropriate court or join court proceedings, if he or she...
Namibian Constitution
and That I will endeavour to the best of my ability to ensure justice for all the inhabitants of the Republic of Namibia, to deputise, assist and advise the President, and to perform the duties of