Members of the public have asked about the system for conferring national honours such as national hero status and state funerals. This column explains how it works.
The Constitution (Article 32(3)(h) gives the president power to confer “such honours as the president considers appropriate on citizens, residents and friends of Namibia in consultation with interested and relevant persons and institutions”.
The Constitution does not provide details or criteria but leaves it to the president’s discretion.
It only requires that actions taken under sub-articles (3) – which includes the conferring of honours – must be proclaimed by the president in the Government Gazette.
The Conferment of National Honours Act, 2012 provides guidance for the president’s exercise of discretion in conferring honours and sets up a committee to advise the president on the issue.
This National Honours Advisory Committee is comprised of 15 members appointed by the president for five-year terms. Members can be reappointed when their terms expire.
The committee chairperson is appointed from nominations by the minister responsible for veteran’s affairs. The vice chairperson is appointed from nominations by the minister responsible for defence.
Members are also chosen from nominations by the ministers responsible for safety and security, justice, and regional and local government, and by the Council of Traditional Leaders and the National Disability Council.
Five committee members must be chosen from nominations made by non-governmental groups: the Council of Churches in Namibia (or any other religious group in Namibia), an association of Namibian veterans, the Namibia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Namibia National Youth Council and the National Union of Namibian Workers.
Three members are selected directly by the president from people who the president considers to be “relevant and interested persons”.
CONSULTATIONS
The committee is charged with consulting widely with organisations dealing with academic and professional affairs on the conferment of national honours.
It also has the power to establish subcommittees consisting of members of the committee and other persons to make recommendations to the committee on specific matters.
When the president intends to confer an honour, either during a person’s lifetime or after their death, it’s the committee’s task to advise the president on the suitability of the person for such honours.
The honours the committee advises on include the status of national hero or heroine, the conferment of a state funeral and interment at Heroes’ Acre, among others.
The act states that the president is expected to consider whether the person in question has contributed to the betterment of the Namibian nation as (1) a veteran who has shown qualities, actions and achievements of heroism; (2) a person who has made significant contributions in economic, social, scientific, academic, public administration, security or any other field; or (3) a person who has provided noteworthy service in national security forces or international peace-keeping duties as a representative of Namibia.
The act states that, where the president confers the honour of national hero or heroine, the president may also confer the honour of a state funeral at Heroes’ Acre or at any other burial place in Namibia.
It states no other criteria or considerations for these honours.
The act authorises the minister responsible for veteran’s affairs to make regulations concerning the types, categories or classes of honours the president may confer in terms of the Constitution, as long as the regulations do not interfere with the president’s discretion.
CONDITIONS
Regulations on the Conferment of National Honours were issued in 2013.
They set out five categories of honours: Namibian General Honours, Namibian Defence Force Honours, Namibian Police Force Honours, Namibian Correctional Service Honours, and Namibian Central Intelligence Service Honours.
The Namibian General Honours are the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, the Order of Mukurob, the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia, the Most Excellent Order of the Eagle, the Independence Medal, the Liberation Medal and the Foreign Service Medal.
The minister responsible for veterans’ affairs – in consultation with other offices, ministries, agencies, organisations or institutions the minister considers appropriate – must determine the criteria and conditions for these honours.
The minister must then submit the criteria and conditions to the advisory committee.
The criteria for the other categories of honours are determined by the defence force, police, correctional service or Namibia Central Intelligence Service, depending on the category of honours.
The regulations do not provide any criteria for national hero status, state funerals or burial at Heroes’ Acre.
TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
There is no formal procedure for nominating people for national honours but it is reported that regional governors play a key role in practice.
The act says only that the president must decide on honours after consulting with the committee and any other interested and relevant person and institutions before conferring any honour regarding heroism or leadership or any act or achievement meriting recognition.
The president has the power to revoke an honour if the person in question acts contrary to the national interest, commits a dishonourable act detrimental to the national interest or acts contrary to the considerations relied on by the president when conferring the honour.
An honour can also be revoked if it was fraudulently obtained or erroneously conferred. However, the conferment of a state funeral and interment at the Heroes’ Acre cannot be revoked after they have taken place.
GENERAL POWERS
Parliament also has a general power under Article 32(9) of the Constitution to review, reverse or correct any action taken by the president under Article 32(3) of the Constitution, which includes the conferment of honours.
This can take place through a resolution proposed by at least one-third of the members of the National Assembly and passed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.
As of mid-September 2026, proclamations published in the Government Gazette have afforded national hero (or heroine) status to 42 people.
The recent state funeral for colonel Helao Joseph Shityuwete was the 91st state funeral conferred by proclamation.
– Dianne Hubbard is a legal consultant with many years of experience in public interest law and a passion for trying to make legal issues clear and accessible.
– Conferment of national hero status (in terms of Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution):
David Moses Meroro, Maxton Joseph Mutongolume, reverend Markus Kooper, Dr Mosé Tenaani Tjitendero, Richard Kapelwa Kabajani, John Alphons Pandeni, Nikolaus Onverwag, ‘Niko’ Bessinger, Hendrik Witbooi, Peter Tsheehama, John Otto Nankudhu, reverend Bartholomeus Karuaera, Frederick Mwala Matongo, Eneas Peter Nanyemba ‘Ndilimani’, Putuse Leonora Deywili-Appolus ‘meekulu’ Linekela Hailundu Kalenga, Walde Homateni Timoteus Kalwenja, Isak Ndeshitiwta Shikongo ‘Pondo’, Natalia Ndahambelela Shikangala Mavulu, Augustus Hafeni Sakaria Nghaamwa ‘McNamara’, Lameck Ithete ‘Kagwaanduka’, Simon Hafeni ‘Mzee’ Kaukungwa, Simeon Linekela ‘Kambo’ Shixungileni, Gerson Hitjevi Veii, Hidipo Livius Hamutenya, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Angelika Kazetjindire Muharukua, Theo-Ben Gurirab, Petrus ‘Ekanda’ Nangolo Iilonga, Dr Nickey Iyambo, Marco Mukoso Hausiku, Ida Jimmy !Ha-Eiros, the late President of Namibia Dr Hage Gottfried Geingob, fhe first President of Namibia and Founding Father of the Namibian Nation, Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, Kornelius Tulotokela Shimuafeni, Brendan Kangongolo Simbwaye, Tobias Mwafangeyo Hainyeko, Eliaser Inamutwika Tuhadeleni, Immanuel Hafeni Shifidi, Festus Nehemia Nehale, Fillemon Nduuvu Nangolo, Immanuel Gottlieb Ndemulungila Nathaniel Maxuilili, Simon Petrus Niilenge.
