Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected President of Namibia in the first round of the Presidential election last Wednesday, with 57.31% of the vote, the Independent Electoral Commission announced Tuesday evening.
With her election, Ms. Nandi-Ndaitwah, candidate of the ruling “Swapo” party, becomes the first female president of Namibia. Swapo has governed this southern African nation of three million people for 34 years.
The leader of the main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Panduleni Itula, came in second place with 25.50% of the vote. In a statement to the media, Mr. Itula indicated that he contests the election results.
Last Wednesday’s vote was extended into the early hours of Thursday for those already in queues. Some citizens had to wait in line for 12 hours due to logistical problems.
Read also: Morocco and Gambia sign a cooperation agreement on the protection of the rights of women and children
Faced with criticism from political parties and voters over long queues, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) decided to extend voting hours.
Namibia is currently led by interim President Nangolo Mbumba, who took power last February following the death of former President Hage Geingob, but did not stand for election.
A 2021 government report found that 43% of the population lived in “multidimensional poverty,” a measure that takes into account income as well as access to education and public services, among other factors.
According to World Bank figures, Namibia ranks second in the world in terms of income inequality, after neighboring South Africa. Both countries spent decades under the rule of the white minority.
With MAP
Morocco
