Nandi-Ndaitwah to become Namibia’s first female president

Diaspora Digital Media can authoritatively report that Namibia is on the cusp of making history as Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is poised to become the country’s first female president.

With two-thirds of the votes counted from last week’s presidential election, Nandi-Ndaitwah is leading the pack with 58.1% of the vote.

The election, however, was not without its challenges.

Logistical issues led to delays in the voting process, with some voters waiting for up to 12 hours to cast their ballots.

Outgoing president of Namibia, Mbumba

Technical problems, including a shortage of ballot papers, also caused chaos at many polling stations.

Despite these challenges, Nandi-Ndaitwah is seriously coasting to victory.

The 72-year-old vice president has been a member of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) since the 1960s and has held numerous senior roles, including foreign minister.

According to the Namibian Electoral Commission, the voter turnout was approximately 60%, with over 1.3 million Namibians casting their ballots.

The commission has praised the peaceful nature of the elections, despite the logistical challenges.

The opposition, however, is crying foul, with Panduleni Itula, leader of the Independent Patriots for Change party, trailing behind Nandi-Ndaitwa.

The opposition is expected to file a legal challenge against the election results.

As the country waits with bated breath for the final results, one thing is clear: Namibia, from all indication, is on the verge of a new era in its history.

Born on October 29, 1952, in Onamutai, Oshana Region, Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah received her education in Namibia and later in the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and Tanzania.

She has had a distinguished career in politics, serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Minister of Environment and Tourism, and Minister of Information and Broadcasting, among other roles.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has received several awards for her outstanding contributions to Namibia’s development.

These include the ‘Thought Leadership’ award at the Namibia Sustainable Development Awards and an Inter-Generational Leadership Award at the 2024 Nala Feminist (Nalafem) Summit.

She is married to Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, a former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force.

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