Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has emerged victorious in last week’s elections, setting the stage for Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to make history as the nation’s first female president.
On Tuesday, the electoral commission revealed that Nandi-Ndaitwah received more than 57 percent of the votes, while her main rival, Panduleni Itula from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), secured 25.5 percent.
This victory continues SWAPO’s long-standing influence since Namibia gained independence in 1990, although the election has been surrounded by controversy. The IPC has rejected the results, alleging numerous irregularities.
Panduleni Itula, aged 67, announced on Saturday, November 30, that his party would not accept the election results. “The IPC shall not recognize the outcome of that election,” he declared, vowing to contest the results through Namibia’s electoral channels.
The election held on November 27 was plagued by significant logistical and technical problems, including a lack of ballot papers and malfunctioning electronic tablets for voter registration. These issues caused extensive delays, with some voters leaving polling stations after waiting for as long as 12 hours.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) acknowledged its organizational shortcomings but reported that nearly 77 percent of registered voters participated in the election. Observers from a group of southern African human rights lawyers suggested that the delays were both intentional and widespread.
This election is particularly crucial for SWAPO, as other liberation-era parties in the region, like South Africa’s African National Congress and Botswana’s Democratic Party, have seen a decline in support. Namibia, a key exporter of uranium and diamonds, is grappling with a youth unemployment rate of 46 percent, nearly three times the national average.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah, often referred to as NNN, is a seasoned SWAPO politician and joins the ranks of a select few female leaders across Africa. She campaigned on a platform focused on “economic diplomacy.”
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