Namibia’s First Female President Elected Amidst Electoral Disputes

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, a member of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), has been confirmed as Namibia’s inaugural female president following a contested election held last week. According to the electoral commission, she secured over 57% of the ballots, while her nearest competitor, Panduleni Itula, received 26%. After encountering logistical issues and a three-day extension of voting in certain regions, Itula declared the electoral process to be “deeply flawed”. His party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), announced its intention to contest the outcomes in court. The Namibian newspaper reported that the majority of opposition parties did not attend the results announcement on Tuesday evening in Windhoek, the capital. On Wednesday, Windhoek was described as calm, with no signs of celebrations or protests, and residents proceeding with their daily routines. Subsequent to her victory being declared, Nandi Ndaitwah stated: “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability.” Swapo has governed this extensive yet sparsely populated southern African nation since its independence in 1990. Nandi-Ndaitwah, a veteran party figure and current vice-president, is recognized as a dependable leader, having held senior government positions for a quarter of a century. On Wednesday, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa conveyed his congratulations to Nandi-Ndaitwah via X. His message read: “Your election as fifth President of the Republic and the first woman in our region to hold this high office is a testament to democracy and its ability to transform our societies.” Upon her inauguration, she will become part of a select group, as Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan is currently the sole female president in Africa. Concurrently, in the parliamentary elections, Swapo retained its majority by a narrow margin, securing 51 out of 96 elected seats, which represents a decrease of 12 seats. The IPC obtained 20 seats, thereby becoming the official opposition. Tirivangani Masawi, a political journalist located in Windhoek, informed the BBC Newsday programme that this election marked Swapo’s “worst performance since independence”. Itula, a qualified dentist, is perceived as more charismatic than Nandi-Ndaitwah and succeeded in diminishing Swapo’s popularity during the 2019 presidential election, lowering its vote share from 87% to 56% over the preceding five years. The IPC declared its intention to “pursue justice through the courts” and advised individuals who believed they were prevented from voting due to electoral commission mismanagement to report to the police to provide a statement. Claus Goldbeck of the IPC informed the BBC that the voting process was an “organisational mess”. Some voters were turned away after waiting in queues for 14 hours due to insufficient ballot papers, and scanners malfunctioned at multiple polling stations. He commented, “The Electoral Commission of Namibia [ECN] had four years to fix things.” The ECN acknowledged shortcomings in the administration of the votes and a scarcity of ballots. However, its chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, refuted any claims of fraud, stating: “I urge all Namibians to embrace the results with the spirit of unity, diversity, understanding and reconciliation.” Swapo spearheaded the fight for national independence against apartheid South Africa. Prior to last Wednesday’s general election, there was speculation that the party might experience a similar decline to other liberation movements in the area. South Africa’s African National Congress forfeited its absolute parliamentary majority in May, and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted from power in October’s election after almost six decades.