Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president on Friday, marking a historic milestone for the nation. Now at the helm, she faces the formidable challenge of tackling Namibia’s pressing issues, including high unemployment, persistent inequality, and widespread poverty.
Her inauguration also cements her place in history as Africa’s second-ever directly elected female president after Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Speaking to BBC’s Africa Daily podcast, she acknowledged the scrutiny she may face: “If things go well, it will be seen as a good example. But if anything happens—just as it can in any administration led by men—there will be those who say: ‘Look at women!’”
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Nandi-Ndaitwah secured victory in the November 2024 elections with 58% of the vote. At 72, she is a longtime stalwart of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), which has governed Namibia since its independence in 1990. Her political journey began at just 14 when she joined SWAPO’s liberation movement against South Africa’s apartheid rule.
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Despite SWAPO’s progress in improving the lives of the Black majority, apartheid’s legacy still lingers, particularly in wealth distribution and land ownership. Namibia remains one of the most unequal countries globally, with white farmers owning approximately 70% of farmland. The nation’s 2023 census reported that 1.8% of the population—just over 53,000 people—identified as white.
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Recognizing these disparities, Nandi-Ndaitwah has vowed to address land reform while upholding the “willing-buyer, willing-seller” approach to redistribution.
“Land remains a serious issue in this country,” she told the BBC before her inauguration. “We still have white citizens, particularly absent landowners, occupying large portions of land.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s career spans decades of service. From 1976 to 1986, she represented SWAPO in Zambia and East Africa, rising through the party’s ranks. Since Namibia’s independence, she has held several ministerial positions, including international relations, environment and tourism, and women’s affairs.
Under President Hage Geingob, she served as deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation. In March 2023, Geingob endorsed her as SWAPO’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election. Following his passing in February 2024, she was appointed vice president before securing her historic win in December.
As president, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasizes economic transformation. She advocates for adding value to Namibia’s mineral exports rather than selling raw materials. She also sees potential in the creative industries and wants the education system to better align with economic demands.
Despite her groundbreaking achievement, she insists on being judged by her leadership rather than her gender:
“It is a good thing that countries are realizing that just as men can hold positions of authority, so can women.”
Nandi-Ndaitwah joins a small but growing group of female leaders on the continent. Alongside Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
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