Namibia has made history by electing its first female president, as the ruling SWAPO party emerged victorious in last week’s elections. Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, representing SWAPO, secured over 57% of the vote, defeating her main opponent, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), who received 25.5%, according to the electoral commission’s announcement on Tuesday.
While the win continues SWAPO’s hold on power since Namibia gained independence in 1990, the election was not without controversy. The IPC has rejected the results, citing “multiple irregularities.” Party leader Panduleni Itula declared on November 30 that his party would not recognize the outcome and vowed to contest it through the country’s electoral system.
The November 27 election encountered significant challenges, including a shortage of ballot papers and overheating voter registration tablets, which caused long delays. Some voters reportedly waited up to 12 hours, with many abandoning polling stations in frustration. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) admitted to these logistical failures but noted that nearly 77% of registered voters participated. Observers from a southern African human rights organization alleged the delays were deliberate and widespread.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, a 72-year-old veteran politician known by her initials NNN, campaigned on a platform of “economic diplomacy,” pledging to address the country’s 46% youth unemployment rate by attracting investments. Her victory adds her to the list of a few female leaders on the African continent.
Recognized for her gold-framed glasses and often seen in SWAPO’s blue, red, and green colors, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized her decades of political experience and wisdom during the campaign. As the conservative daughter of an Anglican pastor and a staunch party loyalist, she now faces the challenge of maintaining SWAPO’s dominance amid growing frustrations among Namibia’s younger population.
Namibia, a leading exporter of uranium and diamonds, finds itself at a crossroads, as SWAPO joins other liberation-era parties in the region, such as South Africa’s ANC and Botswana’s BDP, in grappling with declining public support. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency is poised to mark a historic shift for the nation.