Namibia made history on Friday as Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as the country’s first female president. The momentous event, which took place in the capital, Windhoek, was attended by several African heads of state, including leaders from Angola, South Africa, and Tanzania. The ceremony coincided with the country’s 35th Independence anniversary and was relocated from the Independence Stadium to State House due to unexpected heavy rains.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, affectionately known as NNN, took the oath of office amid loud applause and joyous ululations from the gathered crowd. The 72-year-old, who previously served as Namibia’s vice president, is a seasoned politician and a veteran member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), the ruling party that led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Her inauguration extends SWAPO’s 35-year reign in the southern African nation.
Before addressing the nation for the first time as president, Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the presence of former and current female African leaders, calling on Liberia’s former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as well as Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to stand. She emphasized that her election was not just about gender but about merit, encouraging women to seek leadership roles based on their abilities rather than gender alone.
“I was not elected because I’m a woman but on merit,” she stated firmly. “As women, we should not ask to be elected to positions of responsibility because we are women, but because we are capable members of our society.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has been a member of SWAPO since she was 14 years old, has had an illustrious political career. She entered Namibia’s national assembly in 1990 and has held several high-ranking positions, including deputy prime minister and minister of various key portfolios. In the country’s tightly contested elections last November, she secured 58 percent of the vote, overcoming significant logistical challenges that caused major delays. The opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) put up a strong fight but secured only 25.5 percent of the vote, highlighting the continued dominance of SWAPO despite growing dissatisfaction with other southern African liberation parties.
One of the key concerns during the election was Namibia’s high youth unemployment rate. In 2023, 44 percent of Namibians aged 18 to 34 were unemployed, a pressing issue in a country of just three million people. In her first speech as president, Nandi-Ndaitwah pledged to focus on economic development and infrastructure investment to create jobs and stimulate growth.
“We will increase investment in the development of infrastructure to open investment opportunities, enhance economic productivity, promote economic growth, and improve the quality of life of our people,” she assured Namibians.
Namibia, known for its vast deserts and rich natural resources, is one of the world’s leading uranium producers and also has significant diamond deposits. However, economic inequality remains a major challenge, with a significant gap between the wealthy and the poor. The new president vowed to address these economic disparities and place a strong emphasis on agriculture and rural development to counter the growing migration from rural areas to urban centers.
She also highlighted the importance of improving healthcare, calling for the implementation of universal health coverage.
“We will continue to contribute to the international effort to address global challenges facing humanity today, such as environmental degradation and climate change,” she added, referencing the heavy rains that impacted her inauguration as an example of climate change’s effects.
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In her speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah also reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to international justice, expressing support for Palestinian and Western Saharan self-determination. She called for the removal of sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe, reiterating Namibia’s long-standing solidarity with these nations.
On social issues, the new president has a conservative stance. The daughter of an Anglican pastor, she has maintained a firm position against abortion, which remains illegal in Namibia except in special circumstances. Gay marriage is also not recognized in the country.
The historic moment was met with excitement and optimism by many Namibians. Businesswoman Monica Geingos, the widow of former President Hage Geingob, who passed away in 2024, expressed her joy at witnessing a female president take office.
“We are living a historic moment. Super excited at the inauguration of a female president,” she said as she arrived for the event.
