Nandi Ndaitwah Makes History In Namibia

Namibian Vice President and Swapo leader Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has made history by becoming the first female President of her country. She is also now the first elected head of state and government in the region, only the second in Africa to former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is currently vice president to President Nangolo Mbumba, who has been interim leader since the death of Hage Geingob in February.

This follows Namibia’s controversial and chaotic elections which drew fierce criticism from the opposition.

Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes Namibia’s fifth president since the country’s independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

Her predecessors include Sam Nujoma, the founding leader, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Geingob and Mbumba.

Preliminary results showed Nandi-Ndaitwah leading the presidential race with 58.1% of the vote after results from 91.8% of constituencies had been declared.

Her nearest challenger, main opposition Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula had 25.4% of the vote.

Itula had already rejected the results, saying win or lose they were flawed and discredited. The results are likely to be challenged in court.

Nandi-Ndaitwah needed to secure more than 50% to avoid a run-off. On the parliamentary polls, Swapo was leading the race with 52.68% of the votes counted earlier, extending its 34-year rule by five more years.

There were fears Namibia could be hit by a shock political earthquake similar to the tsunami that rocked neighbouring Botswana after the former liberation movement Botswana Democratic Party, in power for 58 years, was buried in a landslide by the then opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

UDC leader President Duma Boko sent former president Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regional political ally, crushing out of power.

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF and other key former liberation movements were panicking that Swapo might be swept out of power through the current winds of change blowing across the region.

The ANC in South Africa, Africa’s oldest former liberation movement, stumbled in May after losing its absolute majority, landing at 40%, forcing it into a coalition government.

Frelimo in Mozambique is on the ropes and shaky political ground after the country was plunged into post-election violence and chaos amid protests of fraud and vote-rigging, which have left scores dead and property destroyed.

Opposition parties have been on the ascendancy across the region, winning in Seychelles, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana and Mauritius. This has left Zanu PF and its allies shaken to the core.