WINDHOEK, March 21 – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made history today as Namibia’s first female president, vowing to address the country’s high youth unemployment rate as she takes office. Her inauguration, attended by regional leaders from Angola and South Africa, marks a continuation of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party’s 35-year rule.
A Historic Milestone
At 72 years old, Nandi-Ndaitwah—widely known as NNN—joins the small but growing list of women leaders in Southern Africa. Having served as Namibia’s vice president, she played a key role in SWAPO’s governance, which led the country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Her 58% victory in last year’s November elections secured SWAPO’s dominance, despite a strong challenge from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), which garnered 25.5% of the vote. The elections, however, were marred by logistical failures and delays, leading to calls for annulment by the opposition—an effort that ultimately failed in court.
Fighting Unemployment: A Top Priority
One of the biggest issues in the elections was youth unemployment, with 44% of Namibians aged 18-34 out of work in 2023. On the eve of her inauguration, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized job creation as a top priority, pledging to generate 500,000 jobs within the next five years.
“We must create at least half a million jobs, and this will require an investment of 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.67 billion, 4.3 billion euros),” she told South Africa’s SABC.
She highlighted agriculture, fishing, and the creative and sports industries as key areas for employment growth.
Calls for Unity After a Divisive Election
Addressing political divisions that surfaced during the elections, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged Namibians to unite:
“We can campaign and debate, but once it’s over, we must build Namibia together.”
Conservative Social Stances and Foreign Ties
A devout Anglican and longtime SWAPO member, Nandi-Ndaitwah holds conservative social views, including a strict anti-abortion stance, with abortion banned in Namibia except in special cases. Same-sex marriage also remains illegal in the country.
During Namibia’s liberation struggle, she lived in Moscow, later serving as foreign minister from 2012 to 2024, where she praised Namibia’s “good historical relations” with North Korea.
Economic Future: Uranium, Diamonds, and Renewable Energy
Namibia is one of the world’s top uranium producers, supplying nuclear power countries like France. It is also rich in diamonds, natural gas, and oil, with ambitious plans to expand its energy sector.
The country has vast potential for solar and wind energy, though media reports suggest Nandi-Ndaitwah has expressed doubts about the sector’s viability.
As she takes office, her leadership will be closely watched—both for her economic strategies and her role as a trailblazing female president in Africa.
