Namibia's president Hage Geingob on Thursday admitted to breaching coronavirus regulations last month by hosting a celebration to mark his party's 60th anniversary and subsequently fining all guests.

The South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) birthday party took place in parliament on April 19, when Namibia was under lockdown and group gatherings were banned to limit the spread of coronavirus.

"We had a very important occasion of the 60th anniversary of SWAPO," Geingob confessed on Thursday during a press conference on the country's Covid-19 response.

Geingob raised controversy in March for inviting several African presidents to his swearing-in ceremony, prompting them to breach their own travel bans.

The 78-year old president defended his behaviour on Thursday, claiming masks were only required in the workplace or for travel, shopping and outdoor exercise.