Nandi-Ndaitwah shatters glass ceiling in Namibia as first female president

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah comes out top in a historic victory in Namibia’s presidential election is making waves across Africa, positioning her as the first woman to lead the nation since its independence in 1990.

Yet, while her triumph is a landmark moment for gender equality on the continent, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, as controversy and discontent threaten to overshadow her win.

With over 57% of the vote, Nandi-Ndaitwah, affectionately known as NNN, has carried the ruling SWAPO party to yet another victory. However, the cracks in SWAPO’s dominance are evident. The main opposition, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), secured a significant 25.5% of the vote and has outright rejected the results, alleging “a multitude of irregularities.”

The election’s legitimacy has come under fire due to logistical chaos, including ballot shortages and malfunctioning voter registration devices, leading to delays of up to 12 hours. Critics argue these setbacks were not mere mishaps but deliberate attempts to suppress voter turnout.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, enters office with a formidable reputation as a seasoned politician and a key figure in SWAPO. Her campaign focused on “economic diplomacy,” promising to tackle Namibia’s staggering youth unemployment rate of 46% by luring foreign investment.

However, she inherits a nation where frustration with the political elite is mounting, particularly among younger voters disillusioned with SWAPO’s prolonged rule.