- Title: Namibia elects Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president
- Date: 4th December 2024
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NAMIBIAN CITIZEN, AIKUKUTWE HALEMALA, SAYING: “I don’t think that woman will bring change. The reason why I’m saying that I have known this minister since she was minister of foreign affairs. She failed a lot and that’s the reason I believe she’s not gonna make it.”
- Embargoed: 18th December 2024 18:35
- Keywords: BALLOT DEMOCRACY ELECTIONS FEMALE PRESIDENT NAMIBIA SWAPO VOTING
- Location: WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
- City: WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA
- Country: Namibia
- Topics: Africa,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA009474204122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia's ruling SWAPO party has been elected president and will be the country's first female leader, results released by the country's electoral commission showed on Tuesday (December 3).
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is the current vice president. Her victory will extend SWAPO's 34 years in power since it led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
She received roughly 57% of valid votes in the presidential race, according to a breakdown given by the Electoral Commission of Namibia.
Nandi-Ndaitwah needed to secure more than 50% of the votes to secure a win.
She joined SWAPO in the 1960s when it was fighting for independence and has served in numerous senior roles including foreign minister in the democratic era.
Her main challenger in this election was Panduleni Itula from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, who came second with roughly 26% of votes.
Namibians voted separately for the National Assembly. SWAPO won a majority there, securing 51 of the 96 elected seats. The IPC won 20 seats and will be the official opposition.
The IPC has said it will challenge the results in court, calling the electoral process "deeply flawed."
The November 27 vote was marred by technical difficulties and ballot paper shortages, leading to a delay in results as voting was extended in some places.
Political analysts had said a SWAPO victory was uncertain due to growing frustration with high levels of unemployment and inequality, but that the party retained strong roots in rural areas and loyalty among older voters due to the national liberation struggle.
(Production: Ellen Melani, Sisipho Skweyiya) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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