Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) has made history as Namibia's first female president. The Electoral Commission of Namibia announced her victory on Tuesday, confirming she secured 57% of the vote, surpassing the required majority threshold.

Historic Win for Nandi-Ndaitwah and SWAPO

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, currently serving as vice president, will lead the country as SWAPO extends its 34-year hold on power since Namibia's independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. A seasoned politician and former foreign minister, Nandi-Ndaitwah has been a stalwart of the liberation movement and a trusted leader within the party.

“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” she said after being declared president-elect.

Election Challenges and Opposition Reactions

Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), received 26% of the votes but has alleged electoral malpractice. The IPC and other opposition parties have vowed to challenge the results in court, citing logistical issues, ballot shortages, and delays that extended voting in some areas.

Opposition parties boycotted the announcement of results, with the IPC encouraging individuals who were unable to vote due to mismanagement to report their grievances to the police.

Parliamentary Results

SWAPO retained a majority in the National Assembly, winning 51 of the 96 seats. The IPC secured 20 seats, emerging as the official opposition. Despite growing dissatisfaction with unemployment and inequality, SWAPO’s deep roots in rural areas and loyalty among older voters, stemming from its liberation struggle, played a key role in its continued dominance.

Political analyst Rakkel Andreas credited Nandi-Ndaitwah with uniting SWAPO’s factions and maintaining a reputation free from corruption allegations. “She is a stateswoman who has been in leadership since independence. She understands the system,” Andreas said. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory places her in an exclusive group of female African heads of state, alongside Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan.

A Nation at a Crossroads

Nandi-Ndaitwah's election comes at a critical time for Namibia. SWAPO, like other liberation parties in the region, faces increasing pressure to address socio-economic challenges. Comparisons have been drawn to neighboring South Africa's African National Congress, which lost its parliamentary majority, and Botswana's Democratic Party, ousted after nearly 60 years in power. As Namibia transitions under her leadership, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency symbolizes both a historic milestone for gender equality and a test of SWAPO’s ability to navigate the nation's evolving political landscape.