Namibia elects first female President

Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has been declared the winner of last week’s elections, paving the way for Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to become the country’s first woman president.

The electoral commission announced on Tuesday that Nandi-Ndaitwah secured over 57 percent of the vote, while the main opposition candidate, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnered 25.5 percent.

The victory marks a continuation of SWAPO’s dominance since Namibia’s independence in 1990, but the election has been mired in controversy. The IPC has rejected the results, citing what it claims are “multitude of irregularities.”

Panduleni Itula, 67, said on Saturday, November 30, that his party would not recognize the election outcome. "The IPC shall not recognize the outcome of that election," he stated, pledging to challenge the results through Namibia’s electoral processes.

The November 27 election faced significant logistical and technical issues, including a shortage of ballot papers and overheating electronic tablets used for voter registration. These challenges led to long delays, with some voters abandoning polling stations after waiting up to 12 hours.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) admitted to organizational failures but announced that nearly 77 percent of registered voters cast their ballots. Observers from an organization of southern African human rights lawyers claimed the delays were deliberate and widespread.

The election comes at a critical time for SWAPO, as other liberation-era parties in the region, such as South Africa’s African National Congress and Botswana’s Democratic Party, have faced declining support. Namibia, a major exporter of uranium and diamonds, struggles with high youth unemployment, which stands at 46 percent, nearly triple the national average.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, a veteran SWAPO politician known by her initials NNN, becomes one of the few female leaders on the African continent. She campaigned on a platform of “economic diplomacy” and promised to create jobs by attracting investment.

Recognizable by her gold-framed glasses and often seen in the blue, red, and green colors of SWAPO and the national flag, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized her experience and wisdom during the campaign. As the conservative daughter of an Anglican pastor and a party stalwart, her ascent marks a historic moment for Namibia and a test of SWAPO’s ability to retain its influence amid rising discontent among younger voters.