Namibia is a one party dominant state with the South-West Africa People's Organisation in power. Opposition parties are allowed, but are widely considered to have no real chance of gaining power. In Namibian politics, ethnicity plays a significant role in party affiliation and voting behaviour. Some parties are dominated by single ethnic groups; SWAPO itself, its government, and administration, is pre-dominantly Ovambo.
Parties with parliamentary seats
Parties with seats in the National Assembly of Namibia after the 2019 elections:
Unrepresented parties
The following parties contested the 2019 parliamentary elections but did not gain a seat, in the order of votes obtained:
Congress of Democrats (CoD) National Democratic Party (NDP). The NDP gained a seat in the Katima Mulilo town council in the 2020 local authority election. Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) National Patriotic Front (NPF)
New parties
The following parties were established after the last parliamentary elections in 2019: Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). In 2020 it won the municipal elections in the commercial hubs Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, and 29 seats in different constituencies in Northern Namibia, hitherto considered an impenetrable SWAPO stronghold. National Empowerment Fighting Corruption (NEFC)
Parties of local relevance
The following parties did not contest the 2019 general elections but took part in the 2020 local authority election, and gained seats: Gobabis Residents' Association, 1 seat in Gobabis Karibib Ratepayers Association, 1 seat in Karibib Monitor Action Group, 1 seat in Outjo Okahandja Rate Payers Association, 1 seat in Okahandja Omaruru Community Development Association, 1 seat in Omaruru Rehoboth Independent Town Management Association, 1 seat in Rehoboth United People's Movement (UPM), 1 seat in Rehoboth Rundu Concerned Citizens Association, 1 seat in Rundu Rundu Urban Community Association, 1 seat in Rundu Swakopmund Residents Association, 2 seats in Swakopmund Joint Walvis Bay Residents Association, 1 seat in Walvis Bay The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement was registered for the 2020 local elections as an association in the urban centres of Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. It gained two seats in the Windhoek municipality and won the 2020 mayoral election with Job Amupanda.
Defunct parties
National parties
Communist Party of Namibia
Democratic Action for Namas
Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) Namibia African People's Democratic Organisation Namibian Democratic Movement for Change National Progressive Party Riemvasmaak United Party United Nama Independence People's Party United Namib Independence Party United Namibia People's Party