Namibia’s SWAPO party has won the 2024 elections, making Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah the first female president. Despite election controversies and opposition claims of irregularities, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory marks a historic moment. She campaigned on economic diplomacy and job creation amidst Namibia's challenges, including high youth unemployment.
Namibia has elected its first female president, as Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the ruling SWAPO party, secured over 57% of the vote in the country’s recent election.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, will replace outgoing President Hage Geingob, continuing SWAPO's long-standing dominance since Namibia's independence in 1990.
The main opposition candidate, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), received 25.5% of the vote, but his party has rejected the results, citing irregularities and vowing to challenge the outcome.
The election, held on November 27, was plagued by logistical issues, including ballot paper shortages and technical problems with electronic voter registration tablets, causing significant delays at polling stations.
Some voters waited up to 12 hours, with accusations from human rights observers that these delays were intentional.
Despite these challenges, nearly 77% of registered voters participated. Nandi-Ndaitwah, known for her experience in government, campaigned on economic growth and job creation through "economic diplomacy."
