Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) has been elected as Namibia’s first female president following a contentious election.
The electoral commission announced that Nandi-Ndaitwah secured over 57% of the votes, while her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnered 26%. However, logistical issues and a three-day polling extension led Itula to reject the results, alleging electoral malpractice.
As a result, most opposition parties boycotted the announcement of the results on Tuesday in Windhoek. Speaking after her victory, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” according to Reuters.
Swapo, which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990, remains a dominant force despite losing some support in recent years. Nandi-Ndaitwah, currently Swapo’s vice-president, is a veteran leader with over 25 years in high government roles.
Once sworn in, she will join Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan as one of the few female heads of state in Africa.
Itula, a trained dentist and charismatic figure, had previously reduced Swapo’s vote share in 2019 from 87% to 56%. The IPC announced plans to challenge the election results in court, urging those who faced voting difficulties to file official complaints.
Swapo’s dominance has faced growing challenges, similar to other liberation movements in the region, such as South Africa’s ANC and Botswana’s Democratic Party, both of which have recently suffered electoral setbacks.
