Congratulations Madam President-elect! #NamibiaDecides, votes in Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as first Female head of state

A respected veteran of Namibia’s independence struggle and a seasoned politician, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (72) becomes Namibia’s fifth president and the country’s first woman to hold the position.

She has been serving as the country’s Deputy President since February 2024. Her other past portfolios include Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Minister of Women and Child Welfare and Minister of Environment & Tourism.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also becomes Africa’s third elected female Head of State. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) and Joyce Banda (Malawi) were the only other two elected to office. But other notable African women who are or have held the position include current President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan – who ascended to the presidency by constitutional requirement following the death of President John Magufuli in 2021. Presidential elections are expected next October in which Suhulu is widely tipped to stand. Ethiopia’s Sahle-Work Zewde was president from October 2018 to October 2024 although the role is widely viewed as ceremonial and similarly that in Mauritius where scientist Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was president between June 2015 and March 2018. Meanwhile Catherine Samba-Panza was interim President of the then Transitional Government in Central African Republic from January 2014 to March 2016.Namibia’s ruling SWAPO Party’s Central Committee decided to field Nandi-Ndaitwah as its sole Presidential candidate following the death of President Hage Geingob last February.  According to the Electoral Commission of Namibia, she has received 57% of the presidential vote.

She will succeed Nangolo Mbumba – the 83-year-old political heavyweight who took over the presidency following Geigob’s death but decided not to run for election.