Namibia Elects First Female President As SWAPO Secures Election Victory Amid Controversy
Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has been declared the winner of the recent national elections, setting the stage for Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to become the country’s first female president.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) announced on Tuesday that Nandi-Ndaitwah, a seasoned SWAPO politician, secured over 57 percent of the vote. Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), trailed with 25.5 percent.
This victory extends SWAPO’s political dominance since Namibia’s independence in 1990. However, the election has been overshadowed by controversy. The IPC rejected the results, citing alleged “multitude of irregularities.”
“The IPC shall not recognize the outcome of that election,” said Itula, 67, on Saturday, November 30, pledging to contest the results through the nation’s electoral processes.
The November 27 election was marred by logistical and technical challenges, including a shortage of ballot papers and malfunctioning electronic tablets used for voter registration. These issues caused significant delays, with some voters waiting up to 12 hours or abandoning polling stations altogether.
While the ECN acknowledged its organizational shortcomings, it reported that nearly 77 percent of registered voters participated in the election. Observers from a southern African human rights lawyers’ group claimed the delays were widespread and intentional.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, affectionately known by her initials NNN, becomes one of the few women to lead an African nation. She campaigned on a platform of “economic diplomacy,” vowing to boost job creation by attracting investment.
Often seen wearing SWAPO’s signature blue, red, and green alongside the national flag’s colors, Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted her experience and leadership throughout her campaign. As the daughter of an Anglican pastor and a party stalwart, she emphasized her conservative values and deep ties to Namibia’s liberation movement.
Her victory comes at a challenging time for SWAPO, as liberation-era parties across the region, such as South Africa’s ANC and Botswana’s Democratic Party, face declining support. Namibia grapples with economic hardships, including a staggering youth unemployment rate of 46 percent, nearly three times the national average.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency marks a historic milestone for Namibia and presents a critical test of SWAPO’s ability to maintain its influence amid growing dissatisfaction among the country’s youth.
