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Namibia's 72-Year-Old Vice President Nandi-Ndaitwah Wins Presidency with 57%, Becomes First Female Leader

Dec 3, 2024, 10:10 PM

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, the current Vice President of Namibia and candidate of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), has been elected as the country's first female president, securing 57% of the vote in the recent election, according to results announced by the Electoral Commission. The election results, announced on December 3, show that Nandi-Ndaitwah's victory extends SWAPO's 34 years in power since leading Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990, despite the party experiencing its worst-ever electoral showing. The main opposition candidate, Panduleni Itula, received 26% of the votes but has rejected the results and plans to challenge them in court, citing technical problems, ballot shortages, and extended voting periods that caused the election to be prolonged for three days. Nandi-Ndaitwah's election makes her Africa's second female president.