Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been officially sworn in as Namibia’s first female president, making history as the country’s fifth leader since independence.
The inauguration took place on Friday during Namibia’s 35th Independence Day celebration, held at the State House in Windhoek after heavy rains forced a change from the traditional Independence Stadium venue.
Peter Shivute, Namibia’s Chief Justice, administered the oath of office, while outgoing president Nangolo Mbumba, 83, formally handed over power to Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Widely known by her initials NNN, Nandi-Ndaitwah secured a decisive victory in last year’s presidential election, winning 57 percent of the votes cast. Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, garnered 26 percent, according to the Electoral Commission. However, Itula has rejected the results, alleging the election was “deeply flawed.”
At 72 years old, Nandi-Ndaitwah brings decades of political experience to the presidency. She joined SWAPO, Namibia’s ruling party, at the age of 14, when the country was still under South African occupation and known as South West Africa. SWAPO, then a liberation movement, fought against South Africa’s white-minority rule, and Nandi-Ndaitwah quickly rose through its ranks, eventually leading the party’s youth league.
Her activism during her teenage years led to arrest and detention, after which she fled the country and continued the struggle from exile. She returned home following Namibia’s independence in 1988 and has since held several ministerial positions, including foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information.
As she assumes office, Nandi-Ndaitwah has pledged to unify the country and revamp Namibia’s economy, focusing on job creation in agriculture, fishing, sports, and the creative industries.
