By Trust Inonse.

Namibia has made history by electing its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, following a presidential election that has been marred by allegations of electoral malpractice. Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is currently the vice-president and a long-time member of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), secured 57% of the votes cast in the election held last week. Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), received approximately 26% of the vote.

The election process faced significant challenges, including logistical issues that led to a three-day extension of polling in some areas. These problems prompted Itula and other opposition parties to reject the election results, claiming that the extension was illegal and alleging electoral malpractice. As a result, many opposition members boycotted the announcement of the results in the capital, Windhoek.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, has been a prominent figure in Namibian politics for over 25 years. She was a member of the underground movement that fought for Namibia’s independence from apartheid South Africa in the 1970s. Her election marks a significant moment for gender representation in African leadership, as she joins Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan as one of the few female presidents on the continent.

Swapo has maintained power in Namibia since the country gained independence in 1990. However, the party’s popularity has waned in recent years, as evidenced by its reduced vote share in the parliamentary elections. Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory comes at a time when other liberation parties in southern Africa have faced electoral setbacks, raising questions about the future of Swapo’s dominance.

The IPC has announced plans to challenge the election results in court and has encouraged voters who experienced issues during the election to report their grievances to the police.

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