Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in as Namibia’s first female president – a historic moment for the nation. Her inauguration coincided with Namibia’s 35th independence anniversary and was attended by several African leaders.
Fellow female leaders including former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan attended.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, a veteran of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), got 58% of the vote in the November elections. Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), received 26%.
The elections was nonetheless marred with logistical issues, leading to a three-day extension in some areas. Despite these issues, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory underscored continued loyalty to SWAPO, although the party’s popularity has waned somewhat in recent years.
Significance of the Development
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency is significant not only because she is the first woman to hold the office in Namibia but also because she joins a small group of female leaders on the African continent.
Her election shows a growing female representation in African politics. In her inaugural speech, she acknowledged the historic nature of her election but emphasized that her competence and merit earned her the position.
She also spoke challenges that confront her government such as high unemployment, particularly among the youth, and pledged to diversify the economy and tackle joblessness.
More About Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Popularly Called NNN
Mrs Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah popularly called NNN, is a long-time loyalist of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) that has governed Namibia since its independence from South Africa in 1990, that is 35 years ago.
SWAPO’s dominance meant that there was little surprise that she won the November 2024 polls, where she took 58 per cent of votes as the party’s candidate.
Nandi-Ndaitwah became a member of the party at the age of 14, when it was leading the struggle for independence, and became its first woman president last year.
Long Government Career
Nandi-Ndaitwah entered the national assembly in 1990 and was first appointed as cabinet minister in 2000 to head the women’s and children ministry.
She has also served as minister of information, environment and tourism, and of foreign affairs, as well as deputy prime minister.
In February 2024 she was appointed vice president, the first woman to hold that post in the country.
Born in October 1952, Nandi-Ndaitwah will be sworn in at the age of 72 for a five-year term.
She will lead a largely young country with more than 70 per cent of the population aged under 34, according to the 2023 census.
NNN took over from 83-year-old Nangolo Mbumba, who came to power in February 2024 following the death of his predecessor, Hage Geingob at the age of 82.
Conservative Views
The daughter of an Anglican pastor and educated at a mission school, Nandi-Ndaitwah has conservative views on issues like abortion, which is illegal in most cases in the largely Christian country.
Her party voted against gay marriage in 2023.
Life in Exile and Further Education
NNN spent 15 years in exile, leaving in 1974 when she was aged 21 and spending time in Zambia and Tanzania, as well as Russia, where she joined the Komsomol, a Soviet Union-era communist youth organisation.
She obtained a post-graduate diploma in public administration and management at the Glasgow College of Technology in 1987, and a master’s degree in diplomatic studies at England’s Keele University in 1989.
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