- Nambians have elected Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the first female president, ushering a new dawn in the South West African country.
Windhoek, Namibia—Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah wins elections as the 5th and first female president of the Republic of Namibia. She joins Samiah Suluhu as the only female president on African soil. Unlike Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, who has been elected through a popular vote, Samiah Suluh became Tanzanian president through a constitutional succession following the demise of the late John Pombe Maghufuli.
Netumbo is a beacon of hope to several women eyeing political positions, not only in Africa but also beyond African borders. She is a shrewd leader and a teamwork believer who has fought for children, women, and community rights since the beginning of her political journey in pursuit of the independence of Namibia and an end to apartheid at a tender in South Africa.
The Namibian elections were the most contested, with up to 15 candidates racing for the presidency in 2024. Early provisional results projected Nandi-Ndaikwah’s win, flanking even the top rival, Itula Panduleni Filemon Bango of the Independent Patriots for Change. Her win will mark the South West People’s Organization’s (SWAPO) 35-year grip on power since Namibia’s independence in 1990.
Many opposition parties have come out to dispute the claimed victory, terming it bungled elections with a clear lack of transparency and credibility. Numerous Namibian sources have made similar claims, following reports that some voters left the polls without casting their votes because they were missing their ballot papers. It’s not clear what’s next, but the possibility of the final outcome ending in the courtroom is seemingly high. A couple of leaders, including Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF, through his spokesperson, have already congratulated Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Who’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah?
Born on October 29, 1952, in Onamutai, Oshana Region, Netumbo has had a distinguished political career spanning more than six decades. As a teenager, she was among the key figures in the fight for Namibia’s independence from South Africa. Characterized by armed conflict, diplomacy, apartheid, and international involvement, Namibia’s prolonged and complex fight for freedom spanned 24 years (1966-1990).
Formerly known as South West Africa, Namibia, unfortunately like any other African territory, fell under the occupation of Germany, colonizing it in the late 19th century. Namibia later came under South African administration after World War I, operating under the League of Nations mandate. The League of Nations would then cease the mandate to the United Nations in 1966.
For lack of a superpower figure, the League of Nations reign ended in a mortal blow. This comes after World War I and World War II broke out without its intervention. Its sheer powerwill vamoosed, setting the grounds for the formation of the United Nations. Most importantly, the United States of America, a superpower on the rise, felt disinterested in it, further exacerbating its total collapse.
The South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO), established to advocate for Namibian independence, initially rode on a peaceful protest but would then shift to an armed struggle following South Africa’s refusal to withdraw from Namibia after the UN’s demands.
Namibia’s armed struggle for independence commenced on August 26, 1966, with SWAPO’s military wing, the People’s Liberation of Namibia, launching attacks against South African forces. Their armed struggle was characterized by guerrilla warfare, a common unconventional warfare tactic unleashed against independence foes by the Black community.
Namibian independence is largely linked to the independence of Angola and its subsequent recognition by the UN. In 1978, the United Nations recognized SWAPO as the legitimate representative of the Namibian people, bolstering SWAPO’s political legitimacy and international support. Until March 21, 1990, when Namibia gained independence, an estimated 30,000 people lost their lives during the struggle.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s Political Career and Achievements
Her political journey began in 1966 when she joined SWAPO at the age of 14. She actively participated in the struggle against the South African occupation and would later flee to exile in 1974, while holding various key positions within the SWAPO, including serving as the chief representative in Zambia and later in Tanzania. She returned to Namibia in 1989 and has held key political positions and several ministerial roles.
Nandi-Ndaitwah was named the presidential candidate for the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in March 2023 for the 2024 elections, making her the first woman to have held such a high ranking position since the inception of the party.
Until the election day, she had been serving as Namibia’s 3rd vice president since February 2024. She was appointed to the Vice Presidency office following the death of President Hage Geingob. This role placed her in the pivotal position of visibility as a leader, increasing her chances of ascending to the presidency.
She has held several ministerial roles as well since the independence of Namibia:
- 1990-1996: Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
- 1996-2000: Director-General of Women’s Affairs
- 2000-2005: Minister of Women Affairs and Child Welfare. This role placed her at the pinnacle of leadership, advocating for gender equality and children’s rights and to improve the well-being of women in Namibia.
- 2005-2010: Minister of Information and Broadcasting
- 2010-2012: Minister of Environment and Tourism
- 2012-2015: Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
- 2015-2024: Deputy Prime Minister. A high-level position before her appointment to the vice presidency. She coordinated government efforts on various facets, including economic and social development and sustainable development. She continued with her role as the minister of international relations and cooperation.
In 2017, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected as Vice President of SWAPO, a role that underscored her influence within the party and her commitment to advancing political representation for women.
She has also received several accolades for her roles in contributing to sustainable development and leadership, including an Inter-Generational Leadership Ward at the 2024 Nala Feminist Summit and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dar es Salaam.
While in exile, she served as SWAPO’s deputy representative in Zambia in 1976-1978 and Zambia (1978-1980) and as chief representative in East Africa (1980-1096). These roles were critical in building international support for Namibia’s call for independence.
While in exile, she also got a chance to study at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in the Soviet Union, which provided her with a strong foundation in political theory and diplomatic skills. Several notable leaders, including Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, acknowledged her diplomatic abilities and her capacity to clearly state Namibia’s case for independence.
Nandi-Ndaitwa holds a Master’s Degree in Diplomatic Studies from Keele University in the UK, along with several other diplomas in international relations and public administration, which shaped her extensive experience in diplomacy and governance. She is married to Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, a former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is reminiscent of resilience and hope. She is a trailblazer for women in leadership roles, not only in Namibia and South Africa but also beyond. Her dream and several others for an independent Namibia came true, despite facing imprisonment in her early 20s and subsequent experience in exile.
