Namibia is making history as Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes the country’s first female president, officially taking office on Friday after her victory in last year’s elections. The inauguration, attended by regional leaders including those from Angola and South Africa, marks a continuation of the ruling SWAPO party’s decades-long dominance.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, a veteran of the liberation struggle, previously served as vice president and has been a key figure in SWAPO since Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990.
Known as “NNN,” she won with 58% of the vote, overcoming election delays and legal challenges from the opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), which secured 25.5%. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, was a major concern in the election, with nearly half of Namibians aged 18-34 jobless in 2023.
“In the next five years, we must produce at least 500,000 jobs,” she told South Africa’s SABC, estimating that achieving this goal would require an investment of 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.67 billion). She highlighted agriculture, fishing, and the creative and sports industries as key sectors for job creation.
Despite political tensions during the election, Nandi-Ndaitwah called for unity. “We can make our politics during the campaign, but once it’s over, we must build Namibia together,” she urged.
On becoming Namibia’s first woman president, she stated, “Of course, it’s a good thing that we are breaking the ceiling, we are breaking the walls.”
A lifelong SWAPO member, Nandi-Ndaitwah spent time in Moscow during the liberation struggle and later served as foreign minister. She has maintained conservative views on social issues, opposing abortion and same-sex marriage.
Namibia, one of the world’s top uranium producers, also has vast diamond reserves and emerging oil and gas resources. While the country has significant potential for solar and wind energy, reports suggest she has expressed skepticism about the sector’s viability.
