On March 21, 2025, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will be inaugurated as Namibia’s first woman President after winning the election with 58% of the vote. Formerly Vice President, her administration will prioritize job creation and unity in a country still loyal to SWAPO. Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s leadership marks a significant step towards breaking gender barriers in politics in Southern Africa.
Namibia is set to witness a historic moment as it swears in Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the nation’s first woman President, on March 21, 2025. Her election last year in which she garnered 58% of the vote extended the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation’s (SWAPO) 35-year regime. Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah, aged 72, is one of the few female leaders in Southern Africa and her inauguration will attract dignitaries from neighboring countries such as Angola and South Africa.
Previously serving as Vice President, Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah is a prominent figure in SWAPO, which was pivotal in leading Namibia to independence from South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1990. In a competitive election, the youthful opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) received only 25.5% of the votes amidst widespread loyalty to SWAPO, although they posed a significant challenge. A major concern during the elections was the high unemployment rate among the youth, with 44% of young individuals aged 18 to 34 unemployed in a population of three million.
On the eve of her inauguration, Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that job creation would be her administration’s focus. “In the next five years we must produce at least 500,000 jobs,” she stated, underlining the need for investment totaling 85 billion Namibian dollars. The key sectors she identified for potential job growth include agriculture, fishing, and the creative and sports industries.
Moreover, she called for political unity following the election divisions, which saw the IPC attempt unsuccessful legal actions to annul the results. “We must build Namibia together,” she remarked, highlighting the importance of collaboration post-elections. On her groundbreaking election, she expressed the sentiment: “Of course, it is a good thing that we are breaking the ceiling, we are breaking the walls.”
As a conservative figure and daughter of an Anglican pastor, Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah has maintained strict opposition to abortion, which is largely prohibited in Namibia. She has been a member of SWAPO since her teenage years and was previously exiled in Moscow. She served as the foreign minister from 2012 to 2024 and praised Namibia’s robust historical relations with North Korea. Namibia is recognized globally as a substantial producer of uranium, diamonds, and increasingly seeks to explore its natural gas and oil resources while also having significant potential for solar and wind energy production, despite some doubts expressed by Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah regarding the sector’s viability.
The inauguration of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah marks a significant milestone in Namibia’s political landscape as the first woman President. Her commitment to addressing the critical issue of unemployment and her calls for national unity reflect her priorities in office. Through her leadership and experience in SWAPO, she aims to foster collaboration and build on Namibia’s potential amid challenges, underscoring the importance of breaking gender barriers in political leadership within the region.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
