Namibia elects first female president amid controversy

Namibia has made history by electing its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Despite the controversy surrounding the election, Nandi-Ndaitwah won with 57% of the vote, defying predictions that she might be forced into a runoff.

The election was marred by technical glitches, including shortages of ballot papers, which led to a three-day extension of voting. Opposition parties have rejected the results, calling the extension unconstitutional and vowing to challenge the election in court.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory is significant not only because she’s the first female president of Namibia but also because she’s a rare female leader in Africa. She has promised to focus on peace, stability, and youth empowerment during her presidency.

The ruling SWAPO party, which has been in power since Namibia gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, retained its parliamentary majority by a thin margin. However, the party’s grip on power has been weakening, with growing discontent among citizens due to high unemployment and economic challenges.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s election comes amid a broader shift in southern Africa, where long-ruling parties are facing increasing pressure for change. South Africa’s African National Congress and Botswana’s ruling party have both lost their long-held majorities in recent elections.