Namibia has made history by electing Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Vice President and candidate of the long-dominant SWAPO party, as its first female president. The results, announced on December 3, 2024, confirmed Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory with over 57% of the vote, comfortably surpassing the required majority. Her closest competitor, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), secured 25.4% of the votes.
This milestone marks a continuation of SWAPO’s governance, which has dominated Namibian politics since independence in 1990. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s election is seen as a significant step toward gender representation in a country that has been striving for greater inclusivity in leadership. Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has rejected the results.
The election was not without controversy, as the opposition raised concerns about the voting process, including extended polling times. Despite this, election observers from the African Union reported no significant irregularities.
As president, Nandi-Ndaitwah will face challenges such as addressing economic inequality and unemployment while fostering political unity in a nation that has experienced increasing political competition in recent years.