Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), has been elected as president of Namibia. After a disputed election, Nandi-Ndaitwah was declared the winner on 3 December 2024 and will be the country’s first female leader.
The 72-year-old won with 57% of the vote, according to official results declared by the electoral commission, flouting predictions that she might be forced into a run-off if she did not meet the required 50% electoral vote to be declared winner.
Her win cements her governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party’s 34-year hold on power since independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed after the election result was announced.
Opposition parties will contest election result
Opposition parties have rejected the results after the election was marred by technical problems, including shortages of ballot papers and other issues, causing election officials to extend voting. Some voters also gave up on the first day of voting after waiting for up to 12 hours in the queue
According to the commission, Panduleni Itula, the candidate for the main opposition, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), trailed Nandi-Ndaitwah with 25.5% of the vote.
Itula condemned the elections, saying “The rule of law has been grossly violated, and we cannot call these elections by any means or measure as free, fair and legitimate.”
The opposition parties claim the extension was illegal and intend to challenge the results in court.
Nandi-Ndaitwah poised to bring change to Namibia
Nandi-Ndaitwah made history in 2017 when she was elected vice-president of SWAPO at its sixth Congress, becoming the first woman to serve in that position.
For the 2024 elections, Nandi-Ndaitwah contested against the patriarchal culture in the country, and her win signifies a change in political culture in Namibia, where male politicians have been dominant since independence.
Over the years, Nandi-Ndaitwah has held several ministerial roles, including overseeing foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare and information. With over 25 years in politics, she has become a trusted leader, solidifying her reputation as a key figure in the nation’s political landscape and is expected to apply her years of experience for the betterment of Namibia.
She now joins Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is currently Africa’s only incumbent female president.
