Namibia’s Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, could make history as the country’s first female president if she secures a victory in Wednesday’s presidential election. With over 1.4 million voters registered, about half the population, the elections will see 15 political parties competing for the presidency and National Assembly seats.
Early results from special polls, including those for Namibia’s foreign missions and security services, show Nandi-Ndaitwah and her party, the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), leading the race. SWAPO has ruled Namibia since its independence from South Africa in 1990, although it lost its two-thirds majority in the 2019 National Assembly elections due to corruption and money laundering scandals involving the fishing industry.
Political analyst Henning Melber warns that SWAPO needs to reconnect with younger voters, who are less emotionally tied to the party’s liberation history. He notes that the “born-free” generation will base their votes on governance and results, not past struggles.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah has promised to focus on reducing the 20% unemployment rate among young people and graduates, with a plan to spend 85 billion Namibian dollars (around $4.7 billion) over the next five years to create 500,000 jobs, a goal critics say may be too ambitious. Women’s issues, such as reproductive rights, equal pay, and healthcare, are expected to be important to voters.
If elected, Nandi-Ndaitwah would follow in the footsteps of other African female leaders, such as Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Malawi’s Joyce Banda, and Samba Panza of the Central African Republic. Political science lecturer Erika Thomas emphasizes that Nandi-Ndaitwah must remain independent, transparent, and accountable, with a focus on creating policies that promote women’s participation in politics.
While SWAPO remains the frontrunner, it faces challenges from the Independent Patriots for Change, led by Panduleni Itula, and Job Amupanda’s Affirmative Repositioning party. This year’s elections in Southern Africa have already brought significant political shifts, with South Africa’s ANC losing its parliamentary majority and Botswana’s Democratic Party unseated after 58 years in power.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE