Namibia is set to make history as it inaugurates its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on Friday. Her victory in last year’s election not only secured her place in history but also extended the ruling SWAPO party’s decades-long leadership in the country.
At 72 years old, Nandi-Ndaitwah is no stranger to politics. She previously served as vice president and has been a long-time member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), which played a major role in securing Namibia’s independence from apartheid-era South Africa in 1990. Known by her initials, NNN, she will be one of the few women leaders in southern Africa.
The inauguration ceremony is expected to draw heads of state from neighboring countries, including Angola and South Africa, as Namibia marks this significant political transition.
Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 58 percent of the vote in the November elections, which were marred by logistical issues that caused delays. Her main competitor, the opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), made a strong push for power but ended up with 25.5 percent of the vote. Despite growing frustration with long-ruling liberation parties in the region, SWAPO still enjoys strong support among Namibians.
One of the major concerns in the election was high unemployment, particularly among the youth. Reports indicate that in 2023, about 44 percent of Namibians aged 18 to 34 were unemployed. On the eve of her inauguration, Nandi-Ndaitwah addressed this issue directly.
“In the next five years we must produce at least 500,000 jobs,” she told South Africa’s SABC, explaining that this would require an investment of 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.67 billion, 4.3 billion euros). She identified agriculture, fishing, and the creative and sports industries as key sectors for job creation.
Despite political tensions during the election period, Nandi-Ndaitwah called for unity moving forward. “We can make our politics during the campaign and so on, but once it’s over, we must build Namibia together,” she said.
As the first woman to lead Namibia, she acknowledged the significance of her election. “Of course it’s a good thing that we are breaking the ceiling, we are breaking the walls,” she told SABC.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, the daughter of an Anglican pastor, is known for her conservative views on social issues. She has taken a firm stance against abortion, which is illegal in Namibia except in limited circumstances. Same-sex marriage is also not recognized in the country.
Her political career spans decades, including time in exile in Moscow during Namibia’s fight for independence. As foreign minister from 2012 to 2024, she spoke positively about Namibia’s long-standing ties with North Korea.
Namibia, home to vast natural resources, is a major global producer of uranium and supplies the metal to nuclear energy-producing nations, including France. The country also has significant diamond deposits and is looking to expand its oil and natural gas industries.
