Namibia elects Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president
Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was declared the winner of last week’s contentious elections, paving the way for the country’s first female president.
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah secured a decisive victory with just over 57% of the votes, while the main opposition candidate from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) garnered 25.5%, according to the election authority.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes the first woman to lead the mineral-rich southern African nation, which has been under SWAPO’s governance since gaining independence in 1990.
The election, held on November 27, faced delays & logistical challenges, including a shortage of ballot papers, resulting in long queues & extended voting hours. Some voters abandoned the process after waiting for up to 12 hours.
Known by her initials, NNN, Nandi-Ndaitwah is a long-time SWAPO member & the daughter of an Anglican pastor. She became vice president in February & is now one of the few women leaders on the African continent.
