
Commonly known as NNN, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has made history by becoming the first female president of Namibia.
At the age of 72, she garnered over 57% of the votes, while her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, obtained 26%, according to the electoral commission.
This achievement is merely one part of her remarkable journey—Nandi-Ndaitwah has fought against colonial forces, sought refuge, and emerged as a prominent figure in Namibian politics.
However, Itula has contested her victory, characterizing the election as “profoundly flawed” due to logistical challenges and a three-day extension of voting in some areas.
His party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), has expressed its intention to challenge the election results in court.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has been a committed member of the ruling party, Swapo, since her youth, pledging to lead Namibia’s economic revival.
Born in 1952 in the northern village of Onamutai, she is the ninth of 13 children, with her father serving as an Anglican minister.
At that time, Namibia was known as South West Africa and was under South African rule.
Nandi-Ndaitwah joined Swapo, a liberation movement fighting against South Africa’s repressive regime, at the tender age of 14.
A passionate activist, she rose to lead Swapo’s Youth League.
Although this role set the stage for her flourishing political career, her initial goal was solely to liberate South West Africa.
“Politics emerged from the circumstances. I might have pursued a career as a scientist instead,” she noted in an interview earlier this year.
While still a student, Nandi-Ndaitwah was arrested and detained during a crackdown on Swapo activists.
As a result of this persecution, she opted to leave the country and joined fellow Swapo members in exile.
She continued her organizing efforts from Zambia and Tanzania before moving to the UK to study International Relations.
In 1988—14 years after escaping her homeland—South Africa eventually agreed to Namibia’s independence.
Nandi-Ndaitwah returned to Namibia and later joined the new Swapo-led government following independence.
Over the years, she has held various roles, including ministerial positions in foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information.
She became a recognized advocate for women’s rights, with one of her significant accomplishments being the passage of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act through the National Assembly in 2002.
As reported by Namibian media, Nandi-Ndaitwah confronted male colleagues for ridiculing the draft legislation, reminding them that the Swapo constitution condemns sexism.
Despite the male-dominated political arena in Namibia, she continued to advance and was appointed vice-president in February of this year.
She succeeded Nangolo Mbumba, who took on the role after the death of then-President Hage Geingob.
On a personal note, Nandi-Ndaitwah is married to Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, the former chief of Namibia’s defense forces, and they have three sons together.
Throughout her career, Nandi-Ndaitwah has showcased a pragmatic and hands-on leadership style.
She once expressed, “I am an implementer, not a storyteller.”