Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will be inaugurated as Namibia’s first female president, having won the November 2024 elections with 58% of the vote. A veteran of the SWAPO party, she has held numerous governmental positions including vice president. At 72, she will lead a predominantly young nation while holding conservative views on key social issues. Her background includes time spent in exile in Russia during the 1970s.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is set to be inaugurated as Namibia’s first female president, stands as one of Africa’s few female leaders. Below are five significant points to understand about her and her impending leadership.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, affectionately known as NNN, is a dedicated member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), which has ruled Namibia since its independence from South Africa in 1990. Her victory in the November 2024 elections, where she garnered 58 percent of the votes as the party’s presidential candidate, aligns with SWAPO’s long-term dominance in the political landscape.
With an extensive government career, Nandi-Ndaitwah first entered the national assembly in 1990 and was appointed as cabinet minister in 2000, overseeing women and children issues. Her portfolio has included critical roles such as minister of information, environment, tourism, and foreign affairs. In February 2024, she made history by becoming the first woman vice president of Namibia.
At 72 years old, Nandi-Ndaitwah will assume the presidency with an extensive experience in governance. She will lead a youthful nation, where over 70 percent of the population is under 34, based on the 2023 census. Her predecessor, Nangolo Mbumba, was 83 years old at the time of her inauguration.
Guided by conservative values influenced by her upbringing as the daughter of an Anglican pastor, Nandi-Ndaitwah has taken firm stances on social issues. She has expressed opposition to abortion, which remains illegal in most circumstances within the dominantly Christian context of the country. Additionally, her party declined to support gay marriage in 2023.
Lastly, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s past includes experiences of exile during the 1970s, initially in Zambia and later in Russia, where she became a member of Komsomol, the Soviet Union’s communist youth organization. She has also shown support for North Korea, noting its contributions to building structures in Namibia’s capital city.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inauguration as Namibia’s first female president represents a significant milestone in African leadership. As a long-time member of SWAPO and a veteran stateswoman, her extensive experience will shape her governance in a youthful country. Balancing conservative values and a complex past, she is set to lead with a distinct vision for Namibia’s future.
Original Source: www.enca.com
