Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah: Namibia’s first female president ushers in a new era for Africa

On December 3, 2024 the Namibia has written a new page in its political history, electing a woman to the highest state office for the first time.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah72, won 57% of the presidential vote, significantly outpacing his main challenger Panduleni Itula (25.5%) and exceeding the same percentage obtained in 2019 by the then president Hage Geingob.

With this victory, Namibia is moving towards a different political era, in which the stability guaranteed by the historic governing party, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), meets the need to innovate and speak to an increasingly younger society, aware and attentive to the environment.

Despite protests and accusations of irregularities in voting procedures (including ballot shortages and logistical problems that prolonged electoral operations), Nandi-Ndaitwah looks set to be sworn in on March 21, 2025. She will thus become the first woman to lead Namibia.

A long-term journey in SWAPO

The political career of “NNN”, as she is widely known in the country, began in the aftermath of Namibia’s independence in 1990, when he joined the National Assembly. Over the decades he has held numerous ministerial positions: from Foreign Affairs to the Environment up to the vice presidencyto. However, her rise was also marked by difficult moments: accused of having supported a dissident faction in the fight for the succession of the first Namibian president Sam Nujoma, she suffered a temporary setback in her political career. However, thanks to the support of Nujoma’s successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Nandi-Ndaitwah has demonstrated the ability to navigate troubled waters with a thoughtful approach to mediation and dialogue.

This style has given her a new authority: a solid, balanced leader, perceived as reliable and not involved in corruption scandals, a plague that over time has affected the credibility of other political leaders.

A past of activism and commitment

Born on October 29, 1952 in the village of Onamutaiin the northern region of Oshana, one of the key areas of SWAPO power, Nandi-Ndaitwah grew up in a large family, with thirteen children, headed by a Anglican pastor father and one mother with a strong personality. Education at St Mary’s Missionary School in Odibo and youth activism in the SWAPO Youth League were the first stages of a life journey marked by the resistance against apartheid and the defense of fundamental rights.

In the mid-1970s, Nandi-Ndaitwah fought brutal public floggings imposed by the colonial regime, was imprisoned, and then joined SWAPO in exile. His political experience strengthened in the years he spent as a representative of the movement in Lusaka and Dar es Salaam. Then came her international studies: degree in Public Administration and Development at Glasgow College of Technology in 1987 and Masters in Diplomatic Studies at Keele University in 1989. An educational background that has contributed to making her a key figure in Namibia’s international affairs , long-time minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

A non-revolutionary profile

Despite the historical importance of her election, Nandi-Ndaitwah does not appear intent on upsetting the general political picture of Namibia. Despite having been the first female vice president of SWAPO (elected in 2017 and reconfirmed in 2022), . She does not define herself as a feminist and, despite having previously held the position of Minister for Women’s Affairs and Child Welfare, his vision remains tied to conservative principlesespecially on abortion And LGBTQ+ rightstowards which it has shown restrictive and less open positions.

His ideological orientation has roots in a past training also at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in the Soviet Union, which consolidated a geopolitical line attentive to relations with China, Russia, North Korea and other countries far from the Western sphere. In 2022, at a US-Africa summit in Washington, he did not fail to stop in Venezuela, signaling some continuity with SWAPO’s international relations practices.

A victory between challenges and promises

The historic party, although still in power, has seen its support decline, going from 65.5% in 2019 to 53.4% ​​in 2024. The seats in the National Assembly fell from 63 to 51, a sign that Namibia is experiencing a process of political pluralization.

The increased pressure from the opposition and the desire for change, especially among young people, represent a challenge for the new president. The country, which It has around three million inhabitantshas to face a unemployment around 19% and strong economic disparities. At the same time, Namibia is an emerging market in green hydrogen and offshore oil extraction. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s task will be to be able to distribute future benefits equitably, investing in training, clean technologies and effective employment policies.

As some analysts point out, the success of “NNN” represents a sign of stability for the country, but does not exempt it from having to face thorny issues. Opposition parties’ challenges to the election results, for example, may require time and patience while waiting for the Court to rule. Furthermore, the new president will have to find a synthesis between the reform drives and loyalty to the SWAPO tradition, between the needs of a young and ambitious population and an economy still marked by inequalities.

A new era, between continuity and moderate openness

In a scenario in which many historic liberation movements in southern Africa have lost momentum and credibility, Namibia has opted for a balanced, experienced figure not compromised by scandals. The leadership of Nandi-Ndaitwah it symbolizes a phase of continuity, but also an opening to a more inclusive representation. The entry into office of the country’s first female president is already a powerful signal: a barrier has been broken, and although the new leader is not a fierce reformist of gender rights, her mere presence at the top of power can encourage Namibian women to claim a more central role in society.