Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is likely to become Namibia’s first female president after securing over 58% of votes in a disputed election. Her main opponent, Panduleni Itula, refuses to accept the results, citing electoral malpractice. Nandi-Ndaitwah has significant political experience, and her potential presidency would be historic in Africa, joining only one other female leader on the continent.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, representing the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), is poised to become Namibia’s first female president. With over 90% of votes counted from last week’s contentious election, she has secured more than 58% of the total, while her main competitor, Panduleni Itula, received just over 25%.
Despite the electoral commission’s announcement, Itula has expressed his party’s refusal to accept the results, citing allegations of electoral malpractice and logistical issues that led to a three-day polling extension in parts of the country. Swapo has maintained its authority in Namibia since independence in 1990, having previously led the struggle against apartheid South Africa.
Prior to the election, there were concerns that Swapo might experience a decline similar to that of other liberation parties in the region, such as South Africa’s African National Congress, which recently lost its parliamentary majority, and Botswana’s Democratic Party, which was ousted after nearly sixty years in power.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, currently serving as vice-president, has over twenty-five years of experience in government, making her a trusted candidate. If victorious, she would join Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan as one of Africa’s few female presidents. To avoid a run-off election, she must secure more than 50% of the votes.
Itula, a trained dentist representing the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), is perceived as a more charismatic candidate. In the prior 2019 presidential election, he notably reduced Swapo’s vote share from 87% to 56%. The IPC has announced plans to seek justice through the legal system and has urged voters affected by the electoral commission’s management to report to the police.
The prospect of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becoming Namibia’s first female president marks a significant moment in the country’s political landscape. Despite her current lead, allegations of electoral malpractice from her rival cast doubt on the election’s legitimacy. The electoral backdrop reflects broader regional dynamics concerning liberation parties, underscoring the potential for change within Namibia’s political framework.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
