Outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba has praised Namibian women for breaking barriers with the election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the country’s first female president. He noted the nearly balanced gender representation in Parliament and expressed heartfelt reflections on his tenure and late President Hage Geingob.
Outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba has commended Namibian women for reaching the peak of power with the election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the first woman president in the nation’s 35-year history. Nandi-Ndaitwah will officially assume power on Friday, marking a significant milestone as the first elected female president in Southern Africa and only the second in Africa overall, following Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
During his farewell address at State House, Mbumba expressed satisfaction with his leadership, noting that Namibia has nearly achieved 50/50 gender representation in Parliament, a goal supported by the zebra style adopted by political parties to promote gender parity in political roles. This initiative aligns with the policies of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Mbumba commented, “In recent years, we have seen the results of these efforts reflected in one of the most valued institutions of our democracy, parliament, which has close to a 50/50 representation between men and women.” He emphasized that March 21 will represent the culmination of efforts made to empower Namibian women and girls, allowing them to shatter the proverbial glass ceiling.
Reflecting on his time in office, Mbumba expressed gratitude for serving as vice president under President Hage Geingob, who passed away in February of the previous year. He noted, “I was always happy to serve under my brother, who treated me so well, as a friend and as an equal,” and expressed disappointment at not leaving State House together as initially anticipated.
With deep emotions, Mbumba apologized for being the sole individual to bid farewell, accepting his duty to say goodbye not just for himself but in memory of Geingob. He acknowledged the support he received from Namibians following Geingob’s death and noted that while his tenure presented challenges, it was ultimately fulfilling as he completed Geingob’s term successfully.
In conclusion, President Nangolo Mbumba’s farewell address celebrated the significant milestone achieved by Namibian women with the election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as president. Mbumba highlighted the nearly equal gender representation in Parliament and the importance of empowering women. Additionally, he reflected on his enjoyable yet challenging tenure and paid tribute to the late President Hage Geingob, underscoring the supportive nature of the Namibian people throughout his leadership.
Original Source: www.namibian.com.na
