Namibia on course to elect first female president
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Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the vice president of Namibia and a senior figure in the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), is poised to become the country’s first female president following last week’s election. With over 90% of the votes counted, Nandi-Ndaitwah has secured more than 58% of the vote, leading her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, by a significant margin. Itula, from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), received just over 25% of the vote.
Despite Nandi-Ndaitwah’s commanding lead, the election has been marred by controversy. Itula, who is known for his charisma, has rejected the results, citing allegations of electoral malpractice. He claimed that logistical issues, including a three-day extension of polling in some areas, hindered the process and led to significant mismanagement. As a result, Itula and the IPC have stated that they will not recognize the election outcome and plan to challenge the results in court. The IPC has urged those who were unable to vote due to the issues with the electoral process to file complaints with the police.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, a long-time Swapo member, is a trusted leader in Namibia. She has held high-ranking government positions for over 25 years and has been a key player in the country’s political landscape. Since Namibia gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, Swapo has been the dominant political force. As the current vice president, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory would mark a historic moment for the country, making her the first woman to lead Namibia.
In Africa, only Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan holds the title of female president, meaning Nandi-Ndaitwah would join an exclusive group of women leaders on the continent if she is declared the winner. To avoid a second-round run-off in the presidential election, a candidate must secure more than 50% of the vote, which Nandi-Ndaitwah has achieved based on the current count.
Itula, a trained dentist, has emerged as a prominent challenger to Swapo’s dominance in recent years. During the 2019 presidential election, Itula made significant inroads against the ruling party, reducing Swapo’s vote share from 87% to 56%. Although he has not been able to close the gap in this election, his challenge has signaled growing discontent with Swapo’s rule, particularly among younger voters who are seeking alternatives to the party’s long-standing leadership.
The IPC, led by Itula, has been vocal in its opposition to the election process. They claim that the logistical challenges, such as delays and polling errors, affected the fairness of the election. In response to these concerns, Itula’s party has vowed to pursue justice through legal channels. The IPC is also calling on citizens who were disenfranchised by the alleged mismanagement of the election to report their grievances to the authorities.
Swapo has been the backbone of Namibia’s post-independence political structure. The party was instrumental in leading the struggle for independence from apartheid South Africa, and its influence has remained strong since the country gained its sovereignty in 1990. However, as seen in other African nations, the once-dominant liberation parties are beginning to face challenges to their power. In May, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid. In October, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had been in power for nearly six decades, was ousted following the country’s election.
Ahead of Namibia’s recent election, some observers speculated that Swapo might follow a similar path. The party had already seen a decline in its popularity in the last presidential election, with its vote share dropping from 87% in 2014 to 56% in 2019. This erosion of support raised questions about the future of the party and the broader political landscape in Namibia.
As the election results continue to be processed and legal challenges loom, Namibia stands at a crossroads. If Nandi-Ndaitwah is confirmed as president, it will mark a significant milestone for women in African politics, adding to the increasing representation of women in leadership positions across the continent. However, the electoral dispute underscores the growing frustration with the established political order in Namibia and raises questions about the country’s future direction. How the legal proceedings unfold and whether the election result is upheld will shape the political landscape of Namibia for years to come.
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