Namibia’s freedom fighter, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (NNN), has made history by becoming the country’s first female president. The 72-year-old secured 57% of the votes, defeating her closest rival Panduleni Itula who got 26%, according to results announced on Tuesday by the Electoral Commission of Namibia, (ECN).

Itula described the electoral process as “deeply-flawed” – an allegation the ECN denies. His party, Independent Patriots for Change (IPN) has said it will challenge the election results in court.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has been serving as the country’s vice president since February under the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO). This followed the stepping up of then vice president Nangolo Mbumba after the death of President Hage Geingob.

Once sworn in to office, Nandi-Ndaitwah will join Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan who is presently Africa’s only female president.

With about 25 years in politics, Nandi-Ndaitwah has finally reached the top. But her journey was not a smooth ride.

Fighting Apartheid

Nandi-Ndaitwah was born in 1952 at a time Namibia was known as South West Africa and under South African occupation. At age 14, she joined SWAPO, which was a liberation movement at the time, resisting South Africa’s white-minority rule.

She then became the leader of the SWAPO’s Youth League. This role prepared her for a successful political career.

As part of a wide crackdown on SWAPO’s activists, Nandi-Ndaitwah was arrested and detained while she was in high school. The persecution consequently forced her to flee the country and join other SWAPO members abroad.

While in Zambia and Tanzania, she continued with the activities of the organisation and later proceeded to the UK for a degree in International Relations.

14 years after her fleeing, in 1988, South Africa agreed to a Namibian independence. Following this, Nandi-Ndaitwah returned home and subsequently joined the post-independence SWAPO government.

She has served in several cabinet roles including ministries of tourism, information, child welfare and foreign affairs. One of her major achievements as a women’s rights activist was the passing of the Combating Domestic Violence Act in 2002.

Photo of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Photo credits: UN Women on X

Global and Regional Reactions to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s Victory

Global and regional leaders have welcomed Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory, citing its importance for gender equality and women’s leadership.

“Every time a woman steps into leadership, the world moves closer to a better and more equal future,” said Aminah J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

UN Women Africa described her win as “historic” and “a significant milestone in the struggle for gender equality in the highest positions of power.”

South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said Nandi-Ndaitwah’s win “is a testament to democracy and its ability to transform our societies.”

The African Union’s Women, Gender and Youth Directorate described the win as a monumental moment for gender equality and an inspiration to all the women and girls in Africa.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has also reacted to her win, saying, Namibia has voted for peace and stability.