Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was declared the winner of last week’s contested elections, ushering in the country’s first female president, Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The election results, announced on Tuesday, follow a disputed vote that has already been rejected by the main opposition party, which vowed to challenge the outcome.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, secured just over 57 percent of the votes, while the candidate for the main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), received 25.5 percent.
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Despite the electoral victory, the IPC has rejected the results, claiming widespread irregularities and logistical failures during the voting process. The opposition has vowed not to recognize the election’s outcome and intends to seek legal avenues to nullify the vote.
Panduleni Itula, the IPC’s presidential candidate, accused the authorities of deliberate attempts to frustrate voters. “The IPC shall not recognise the outcome of that election,” he stated, adding that his party would “fight… to nullify the elections through the processes that are established within our electoral process.”
The election was marred by delays and technical difficulties, including a shortage of ballot papers and long queues, which caused frustration among voters. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) admitted to failures in organizing the vote but emphasized that nearly 77 percent of the country’s 1.5 million registered voters participated.
In response to the contested results, ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua called for unity, urging all Namibians to accept the outcome and work together for the country’s progress. “Elections are competitive by nature, but democracy calls upon us to unite once the votes have been counted,” she said.
The election was seen as a crucial test for SWAPO’s 34-year grip on power, with growing discontent among younger generations over issues like unemployment and inequality. Nandi-Ndaitwah, a long-standing member of SWAPO, takes over leadership in a country rich in natural resources but facing economic challenges. Unemployment among young people is particularly high, with nearly 46 percent of 15- to 34-year-olds unemployed.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has been involved in politics for decades, pledged during her campaign to focus on creating jobs by attracting investments through economic diplomacy. As the first woman to lead Namibia, she joins a select group of female leaders in Africa.
SWAPO also secured a decisive victory in the concurrent national assembly election, winning 51 seats, although its representation fell from 63 seats in the previous assembly. The IPC secured 20 seats in the new assembly.
As Nandi-Ndaitwah prepares to take office, she faces the challenge of uniting a nation divided by the disputed election, while addressing the pressing issues of youth unemployment and economic inequality.
