Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes Namibia’s first female president

Namibia elected its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, from the ruling party, in the first round with 57.31% of the vote, the electoral commission announced Tuesday evening. Swapo, party of the one who is currently vice-president and who is nicknamed “NNN”, directs the vast country since its independence in 1990.

This election took place almost ten months after the death of President Hage Geingob, since replaced by his vice-president, Nangolo Mbuamba, who did not wish to run for president.

“Thank you for your trust,” soberly declared the new president, in a long orange silk dress, thin glasses and matching hat, affirming that she would keep her commitments made to voters. During a campaign where she strove to highlight her wisdom, she notably promised the creation in five years of more than 250,000 jobs, warning that “business can only prosper if politics is stable.” She also pledged to attract investment “through political diplomacy”.

Conservative positions

Daughter of an Anglican pastor, who passed through Russia during his exile in the 1970s, the activist a trained in the Komsomol, the youth organization of the Soviet Communist Party. A figure in the struggle for independence, Nandi-Ndaitwah displays conservative positions, notably being a supporter of strict legislation on abortion.

His first opponent, the candidate of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, Panduleni Hour, came far behind, with only 25.50% of the votes in this election which saw high participation, but also numerous boondoggles forcing the vote to be extended by several days.

Swapo also won the legislative elections held at the same time, obtaining 51 seats compared to 20 for the CPI. This score is, however, down compared to the 63 seats held by Swapo in the previous assembly.

Strong participation, but difficulties in voting

The presidential and legislative elections of November 27 had to be extended twice due to problems logistical and technical, including a shortage of ballot papers. On the first day of voting, endless queues forced some voters to give up, after waiting up to 12 hours. The country, proud of its peace and the solidity of its democracy, has largely moved with participation of more than 76% of those registered, according to the electoral commission.

Panduleni Itula, a 67-year-old former dentist and lawyer, denounced chaotic elections which were subject, according to him, to “multiple irregularities”. He indicated that he intended to have this “cancelled” according to “the procedures provided for.” ballot, “whatever the outcome”. “We cannot describe these elections as free, fair and legitimate,” he denounced on Saturday. The Southern African Lawyers’ Organization, a specialist in human rights, which had sent an observation mission, reported “deliberate delays in the arrival of the bulletins of vote ».