Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made history on Tuesday being elected Namibia’s first female president after securing over 57% of the vote in last week’s general election, BBC reported. Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnered 26% of the vote.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 71, represents the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), Namibia’s ruling party since independence in 1990.
“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Nandi-Ndaitwah declared after the announcement, saying she is committed to maintaining unity in the southern African nation.
Despite her victory, logistical issues and extended polling in some regions have led to claims of electoral irregularities.
Itula pledged to challenge the electoral results in court, urging citizens to report voting difficulties to the police.
Several opposition parties boycotted the announcement of the results on Tuesday in the capital, arguing that election mismanagement had undermined the process. The IPC labeled the election “flawed” and vowed to challenge the results in court.
While election observers also suggested that polling delays and logistical setbacks marred the process, the electoral commission is standing by the integrity of the results.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has served as Namibia’s vice president since February, brings decades of political experience to the role. She has held various government positions for over 25 years and is considered a Swapo stalwart.
Once sworn in, she will join Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan as one of Africa’s only two current female heads of state.