Namibia has made history by electing its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, following a contentious election marred by technical difficulties. Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, secured 57% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and extending the ruling SWAPO party’s 34-year hold on power.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia reported just over 1 million ballots cast out of 1.4 million registered voters. Despite the landmark victory, the election was overshadowed by shortages of ballot papers and delays, prompting a three-day extension to voting. Opposition leaders, including Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change, have rejected the results as unconstitutional and plan to challenge them in court.
“This election has violated the very tenets of our Electoral Act. Namibians deserve a free and fair process,” said Itula, who garnered 25% of the vote. Opposition parties boycotted the announcement of results, accusing the commission of mismanagement.
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Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is set to become Namibia’s fifth president, emphasized her commitment to stability and youth empowerment. “We are going to do what we promised during the campaigns. Thank you for your trust,” she said in a speech.
SWAPO, which narrowly retained its parliamentary majority with 51 seats, faces growing discontent over economic struggles, including high unemployment. The party’s performance marked its worst parliamentary showing since Namibia’s independence in 1990.
Observers note the election reflects broader regional shifts, with once-dominant liberation parties in South Africa and Botswana losing their majorities this year. SWAPO’s ability to retain power, despite public frustration, highlights its deep historical ties to Namibia’s independence movement.
Namibia, a resource-rich nation with significant reserves of uranium, diamonds, and untapped offshore oil, has been praised for its democratic stability. However, election-related controversies have left many questioning the country’s democratic integrity.
The president-elect is expected to address the nation Wednesday, focusing on uniting the country amid legal disputes and public outcry over the election process.
