In a groundbreaking moment for Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been elected as the nation’s first female president, earning over 57% of the vote.
Her victory marks another milestone in a life dedicated to liberation, leadership, and advocacy for women’s rights.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah, known affectionately as “NNN,” has long been a trailblazer. From joining the SWAPO liberation movement at just 14 to becoming vice president earlier this year, her path has been shaped by resilience and service.
Born in the northern village of Onamutai, Nandi-Ndaitwah grew up under the shadow of South Africa’s occupation of Namibia, then known as South West Africa.
Arrested as a teenager for her activism, she fled into exile, continuing the fight for independence in Zambia, Tanzania, and the UK, where she earned a degree in International Relations.
Following Namibia’s independence in 1988, Nandi-Ndaitwah returned home, joining the government and holding key ministerial roles in foreign affairs, tourism, and child welfare.
As an advocate for gender equality, she spearheaded the passage of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act in 2002, challenging male colleagues who resisted the measure.
Her leadership style, described as pragmatic and action-oriented, is summed up in her own words:
“I am an implementer, not a storyteller.”
While her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change party, has contested the election results, Nandi-Ndaitwah is focusing on her vision for Namibia’s economic transformation.
Married to retired defense chief Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, and a mother of three, Nandi-Ndaitwah continues to inspire as a symbol of progress in Namibia’s traditionally male-dominated political sphere.
