Namibia Welcomes Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as First Female President

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, has made history as Namibia’s first woman to assume the presidency, securing 57% of the vote in a landmark election, according to the country’s electoral commission. Her decisive victory defied expectations of a potential run-off.

Following the announcement of her win on Tuesday, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed gratitude, stating, “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability.” Her triumph extends the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party’s uninterrupted 34-year rule since Namibia gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, though the election outcome has been met with controversy.

Election Challenges and Opposition Disputes

The election process faced significant setbacks, including a shortage of ballot papers and technical glitches, which forced officials to extend voting through Saturday. These disruptions led to extensive queues, with some voters waiting up to 12 hours and others abandoning the process altogether.

Opposition parties have condemned the extension as unlawful and vowed to challenge the results in court. Panduleni Itula, the candidate for the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, came in second with 25.5% of the vote. He dismissed the election as neither free nor fair, stating, “The rule of law has been grossly violated.”

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s Journey to the Presidency

Nandi-Ndaitwah assumed the vice presidency in February following the death of President Hage Geingob while in office. Despite SWAPO’s enduring dominance, the party has struggled to resonate with younger voters due to persistent youth unemployment and socioeconomic disparities.

Her political career began in the 1970s as part of Namibia’s clandestine independence movement. After studying in the UK, she joined the nation’s parliament in 1990 and has since held multiple ministerial roles.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s historic election represents both a milestone for gender equality in Namibia and a test of SWAPO’s ability to address the evolving needs of its electorate.