Namibia is set to make history on Friday as it inaugurates its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, following her victory in last year’s elections. Her win extends the 35-year reign of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in the southern African nation.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah will join a small but growing list of female leaders in Africa. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by regional heads of state, including leaders from Angola and South Africa.
A Veteran of Namibia’s Independence Struggle
A longtime member of SWAPO, Nandi-Ndaitwah previously served as vice president and has been instrumental in Namibia’s political landscape. She played a significant role in the country’s liberation from apartheid South Africa, which culminated in Namibia’s independence in 1990.
Popularly known by her initials, NNN, she secured 58 percent of the vote in the November elections, which faced multiple extensions due to logistical challenges. Despite a strong challenge from the youthful opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), which garnered 25.5 percent of the vote, SWAPO’s dominance remained unshaken.
Addressing Economic Challenges
A major issue in the election was Namibia’s high unemployment rate, particularly among young people. In 2023, unemployment among 18- to 34-year-olds stood at a staggering 44 percent in a country of just three million people.
On the eve of her inauguration, Nandi-Ndaitwah pledged to prioritize job creation.
“In the next five years, we must produce at least 500,000 jobs,” she stated in an interview with South Africa’s national broadcaster, SABC. Achieving this goal, she added, would require an estimated investment of 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.67 billion, 4.3 billion euros).
Key sectors identified for job creation include agriculture, fishing, and the creative and sports industries.
Call for National Unity
The election process revealed deep political divisions, with the IPC attempting to annul the results through legal action, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Nandi-Ndaitwah called for unity, emphasizing the need to move forward collectively.
“We can make our politics during the campaign, but once it’s over, we must build Namibia together,” she said.
Breaking Barriers in Leadership
Speaking on her historic election, she acknowledged the significance of breaking gender barriers.
“Of course, it’s a good thing that we are breaking the ceiling, we are breaking the walls,” she told SABC.
A conservative leader, Nandi-Ndaitwah is known for her strict stance on social issues, opposing abortion except in exceptional cases and maintaining Namibia’s ban on gay marriage.
Global Alliances and Economic Prospects
A SWAPO member since her teens, she spent part of her exile in Moscow during the liberation struggle. As Namibia’s foreign minister from 2012 to 2024, she championed strong ties with various nations, including North Korea.
Namibia is a key global producer of uranium, supplying nuclear power-generating countries like France. Additionally, the nation is rich in diamonds and has significant untapped reserves of natural gas and oil.
While the country holds vast potential for solar and wind energy production, reports indicate Nandi-Ndaitwah has expressed reservations about the sector’s feasibility.
As she takes office, all eyes will be on her administration’s approach to addressing economic challenges, fostering unity, and positioning Namibia for long-term growth.
