Tue Dec 03 21:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Namibia Elects First Female President Amidst Opposition Claims of Irregularities
**WINDHOEK, Namibia** – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has made history as Namibia’s first female president, winning the national election with 57% of the vote, according to official results released Tuesday. The 72-year-old, who assumed the vice presidency in February following the death of President Hage Geingob, defied predictions of a run-off election.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory secures the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party’s continued rule for a further term, extending their 34-year hold on power since Namibian independence. However, the election was far from smooth. Technical issues, including widespread ballot paper shortages and other logistical problems, led to a controversial extension of voting until Saturday. Long queues, with some voters waiting up to 12 hours, resulted in many abandoning their attempts to vote on the first day.
Opposition parties have vehemently denounced the election results, claiming the extension was illegal and citing numerous irregularities. They have pledged to challenge the outcome in court. Panduleni Itula, the candidate for the main opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), secured 25.5% of the vote and accused the government of violating the rule of law, describing the election as neither free nor fair.
While SWAPO’s long reign has cemented its position, the party faces growing discontent among young voters grappling with high unemployment and persistent inequalities. Nandi-Ndaitwah, a veteran politician who participated in the country’s independence movement in the 1970s, now faces the challenge of addressing these deep-seated issues. Her presidency marks a significant milestone for Namibian politics, but also begins amidst considerable political turmoil and legal uncertainty.
First Piper 