Namibia’s Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, stands on the verge of potentially becoming the nation’s first female president as she competes in the presidential election scheduled for Wednesday.
Approximately 1.4 million individuals, equating to around half of Namibia’s population, have registered for the elections, which sees 15 political parties vying for both the presidency and seats in the National Assembly.
Recent results from early voting conducted for Namibian citizens abroad, as well as those in the seafaring and security sectors, have shown Nandi-Ndaitwah leading along with her party, the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO). This party has been at the helm of Namibian governance since the country gained independence from South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1990.
However, in the previous election held in 2019, SWAPO experienced a significant setback by losing its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for the first time since 1994. Analysts have largely blamed this decline on allegations related to corruption and money laundering tied to the fishing sector, which implicated two cabinet ministers and resulted in convictions of associated businessmen.
Political expert Henning Melber, affiliated with universities in Pretoria and the Free State, suggests that both SWAPO and Nandi-Ndaitwah should consider the 2019 election results as a stern warning despite their perceived advantages in the current race.
Melber emphasizes that the party needs to engage younger voters who may not feel connected to the legacy of liberation struggles, a challenge shared by similar political movements across Africa, including South Africa’s African National Congress.
“It appears to be an irreversible decline to recapture prior dominance. The erosion of legitimacy for former liberation movements has progressed significantly,” he remarked.
Melber noted that the younger demographic, termed the “born-frees” – those born post-liberation – tend to prioritize practical governance and tangible results over emotional ties to the party’s historical narrative.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah has made commitments to address high unemployment, particularly among the youth, which currently stands at 20%. She aims to invest around 85 billion Namibian dollars (approximately $4.7 billion) over the next five years, promising to generate over 500,000 jobs; a target her detractors deem overly ambitious.
Women’s issues, such as reproductive rights, equal pay, and healthcare access, are anticipated to be key focal points among voters as well.
Should Nandi-Ndaitwah win the presidency, she would join the ranks of other female leaders on the continent, including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, the first woman elected president in Africa in 2005, along with Joyce Banda of Malawi and Samba Pranza from the Central African Republic.
Erika Thomas, a political science academic at the University of Namibia, asserted that if Nandi-Ndaitwah is elected, she must show independence, transparency, and accountability in her governance.
“It’s essential for her to advocate for policies and legislative frameworks that enhance women’s participation and increase female representation in political institutions,” Thomas added.
The SWAPO party will encounter competition from the Independent Patriots for Change, which is led by former dentist Panduleni Itula, as well as Job Amupanda’s Affirmative Repositioning party, comprised of university academics.
As the political campaigns came to a close with final rallies this past weekend, changes have been notable across southern Africa in recent elections. This year, the African National Congress in South Africa has lost its 30-year stronghold in parliament, while Botswana’s Democratic Party has been ousted after a 58-year tenure.
In Mauritius, recognized for its democratic stability, the opposition recently scored a resounding victory in the elections, while Mozambique faces unrest following contentious election outcomes where the ruling Frelimo party was declared the victor, inciting protests that have resulted in numerous fatalities.