The Attorney-General of the Republic of Namibia
- Overview
- Contact
- Exercise the final responsibility for the Office of the Prosecutor-General, which not only refers to financial responsibility but includes the duty to account to the President and the legislature
- As the principal legal advisor to the President and government the Attorney-General is assisted by the Directorate Legal Advice, the Directorate Civil Litigation and Office of the Prosecutor-General
- The Directorate of Civil Litigation is headed by the Government Attorney and consists of senior and junior legal practitioners who represent government in all civil matters against Government
- The Directorate of Legal Advice is headed by the Chief Legal Advisor, consisting of junior and senior legal advisors who assist the Attorney-General in advising the President and the government in all legal matters pertaining to national and international law. The Directorate also represents government on boards, committees and commissions; negotiates on behalf of government; drafts and scrutinises contracts, agreements, conventions, treaties, memoranda of understandings and Legislative Bills
- The Office of the Prosecutor-General is headed by the Prosecutor-General assisted by junior and senior public prosecutors in fulfilling its prosecutorial functions in all criminal matters
- Required to take all actions necessary for the protection and upholding of the Constitution. In pursuance of this duty, the Attorney-General brought two applications to the Supreme Court of Namibia, namely:
- Ex parte Attorney-General: In re Corporal Punishment by Organs of State 1991 NR 178 (SC); and
- Attorney-General vs the Minister of Justice and others (P.12/2009) [2013] NASC 3 (4 April 2013)
- Perform all such functions and duties as may be assigned to him or her by an Act of Parliament. As an example, the State Finance Act, 1991 (Act no. 31 of 1991) requires the Attorney-General to scrutinise and certify any agreement or contract that may have legal and financial implications for government before they are entered into by government offices, ministries and agencies
Hon. Sakeus E.T. Shanghala, Member of Parliament (MP) Attorney-General
The Attorney-General of the Republic of Namibia is appointed by the President in terms of Article 86 of the Namibian Constitution.
The Office of the Attorney-General consists of three directorates, namely Office of the Prosecutor General, Directorate Legal Advice, and Directorate of Civil Litigation.
Powers and Functions of the Attorney General
