Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah elected as Namibia’s president
During the 2024 election, 76% of Namibians cast ballots, demonstrating a remarkably high voter turnout. Due to Namibians’ faith in her vision, Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah won a resounding victory with 57% of the vote. According to the electoral commission, Panduleni Itula, a lawyer and former dentist who runs for the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), was her closest opponent. He only garnered 25.5% of the vote.
« Thank you for your trust, » she declared upon the findings’ release. Assuring the country that she would keep her promises to voters, Nandi Ndaitwah said, « The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability. »
She stressed, though, that her presidency would not be « business as usual. » In her victory speech, she promised to prioritize economic change and take decisive action to meet the urgent needs of the Namibian people. « It has to be a radical shift in addressing the rights of our people, » she said. By using economic diplomacy to draw in investments, Nandi Ndaitwah hopes to combat unemployment.
Who is Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah?
Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah, commonly referred to as « NNN, » has been a significant figure in the political arena of Namibia for an extended period. Since February 2024, she has held the position of the country’s third vice-president. She represents the Southwest African People’s Organisation (SWAPO). It is the ruling party in Namibia since its independence from South Africa in 1990.
Born on October 29, 1952, Nandi Ndaitwah has extensive experience in leadership roles. She has served as a deputy prime minister, minister of international relations and cooperation, and minister of environment and tourism. Notably, she made history by becoming SWAPO’s first female candidate for the presidency.
As the ninth of thirteen siblings, Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah’s political journey began at a young age. At the age of 14, she became a member of SWAPO. She was motivated by her commitment to ending South Africa’s occupation of Namibia. Her activism quickly propelled her into a leadership position within SWAPO’s Youth Movement. Therefore, she became a target of the apartheid government.
In pursuit of her safety, she sought refuge among SWAPO exiles in Zambia. She then attended the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in the Soviet Union. There, she obtained a diploma focused on the work and practices of the communist youth movement. Subsequently, she furthered her education in management and administration at Glasgow College of Technology in the United Kingdom, culminating in a degree in international relations from Keele University.
Opposition rejects elections’ results
Namibia’s presidential election, originally set for November 27, 2024, encountered considerable delays and technical difficulties, resulting in two extensions of the voting period. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) admitted to logistical shortcomings, including technical issues and a lack of ballot papers, which hindered the voting process in various regions.
Panduleni Itula, the leading opposition candidate, criticized the election’s management. On November 30, before the official announcement of the results, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) expressed their intention to contest the election results, citing numerous irregularities.
Itula contended that the prolonged voting process compromised the election’s credibility and voiced significant discontent with the ECN’s performance. As a result, he dismissed the outcomes of the presidential elections, raising questions about its legitimacy.
