Namibia's inaugural female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was recently sworn into office. She has committed to broadening the nation’s economic base and tackling joblessness.
On Friday, 72-year-old Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, often referred to as NNN, took the oath of office to become Namibia’s inaugural female president. This historic event occurred in the southern African country.
The SWAPO party, which has governed this nation of roughly 3 million inhabitants for more than thirty years, emerged victorious in both the recent presidential and parliamentary elections held in November. As the former deputy president, Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 58% of the votes cast.
The outgoing 83-year-old President Nangolo Mbumba transferred power during a ceremony that overlapped with Namibia's 35th anniversary of independence. The event, originally planned for the Independence Stadium, was relocated to State House in Windhoek because of unusually intense rainfall.
Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes the fourth female president in Africa following Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from Liberia, Joyce Banda from Malawi, and Samia Suluhu Hassan from Tanzania.
Sirleaf and Banda, who previously led their respective nations, along with Tanzania’s present leader, President Hassan, were among those who attended Nandi-Ndaitwah's swearing-in ceremony.
Nandi-Ndaitwah was inaugurated just one day following the election of Namibia's first woman Speaker of Parliament, former Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
What did Nandi-Ndaitwah say?
During her inaugural speech as president, Nandi-Ndaitwah committed to prioritizing efforts to decrease youth unemployment and to make significant investments in renewable energy, farming, and infrastructure development.
She stated that we will boost investments in infrastructure development to create new investment prospects, strengthen economic efficiency, foster economic expansion, and elevate the standard of living for our citizens.
The head of state additionally urged the nation to adopt comprehensive healthcare coverage for all citizens.
She dedicated herself to diversifying the economy, aiming for citizens to "gain maximal advantages from our nation's natural wealth via enhanced processing and added value."
The president stated that Namibia will keep participating in initiatives aimed at tackling climate change, which remains a persistent danger for the arid nation frequently affected by droughts.
In her address, Nandi-Ndaitwah voiced her backing for the Palestinian people’s right to self-governance as well as that of the inhabitants of Western Sahara. She further advocated for the removal of global sanctions imposed on Cuba, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.
Experienced statesperson in emerging country
Nandi-Ndaitwah serves as merely the fifth president of Namibia, a nation that was under German colonial rule until the conclusion of World War I. With extensive experience, she is a longstanding member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), the group that guided Namibia towards independence in 1990 and has maintained governance ever since.
In the 1960s, Namibia's inaugural female president became part of SWAPO during her teenage years. She spent time in exile across various countries including Zambia, Tanzania, the former Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Since 1990, she has served as a legislator in Namibia and has occupied multiple cabinet positions such as Minister of Environment and Minister of Foreign Affairs prior to her appointment as Vice President.
Nandi-Ndaitwah's spouse is a former general who led Namibia's military and holds the official designation of "first gentleman."
Edited by: Sean Sinico
Author: Dmytro Hubenko (along with AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
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