Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Becomes Namibia’s First Female President at 72
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in as Namibia’s first female president. Her inauguration marks a historic moment and continues the ruling party’s 35-year leadership.
She won last year’s election with 58% of the vote. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday, attended by African leaders from Angola, South Africa, and Tanzania.
The event was originally planned for Independence Stadium but was moved to State House due to heavy rain. It also coincided with Namibia’s 35th independence anniversary.
Outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba, 83, handed over power during the ceremony. The crowd cheered as Nandi-Ndaitwah, also known as NNN, took the oath of office.
In her speech, she said her election was historic but emphasized that she was chosen for her abilities. She acknowledged Namibia’s progress since independence but noted that more work is needed.
Before becoming president, Nandi-Ndaitwah served as vice president for a year. She has been a key figure in SWAPO, the party that led Namibia to independence in 1990.
Her presidency places her among the few female heads of state in Africa. Former President Mbumba praised her achievement, calling it a breakthrough moment.
The opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), put up a strong fight, winning 25.5% of the vote. However, SWAPO retained its dominance, and an opposition attempt to challenge the results in court failed.
