Namibia makes history: Meet the groundbreaking winner of presidential race
Namibia elected its first-ever female head of state in a landmark vote that extended the ruling partys decades-long leadership. The election faced some technical problems but resulted in a clear victory
In a ground-breaking shift Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became Namibias first female president-elect securing a win with fifty-seven percent of votes in the late-november elections
The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability
The seventy-two year old leader who started her political journey with SWAPO (South-West Africa Peoples Organization) back in the 60s brings decades of know-how to the role — including her work as foreign minister and vice-president. The ruling party which brought independence from South-Africa continues its thirty-four year leadership streak
The nov-27 voting process wasnt without its bumps (ballot shortages and tech-issues made organizers extend voting in some places). The Independent Patriots for Change party with their candidate Panduleni Itula got twenty-six percent of votes; they dont accept the results and plan to go to court
In the parliament vote SWAPO kept control getting fifty-one seats while IPC secured twenty making them the main opposition force. Political expert Rakkel Andreas points out that Nandi-Ndaitwah united different party groups and kept a clean record which helped her win support from both rural areas and older voters who remember the independence fight
