Namibia has elected its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), in a closely contested election marred by controversy. While the electoral commission declared Nandi-Ndaitwah the victor with over 57% of the vote, opposition parties, led by Panduleni Itula who received 26%, rejected the results, citing logistical problems, a three-day polling extension, and alleged electoral malpractice.
They boycotted the official announcement and plan legal challenges. Nandi-Ndaitwah, a long-serving vice-president and SWAPO stalwart, asserted the election reflected a vote for peace and stability. SWAPO, in power since Namibia's independence in 1990, saw its vote share reduced from a previous high, reflecting a challenge from Itula's Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), who garnered significant support despite losing the election. This victory makes Nandi-Ndaitwah only the second female president in Africa, joining Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan. The election outcome follows recent shifts in power dynamics across Southern Africa, where several long-ruling liberation movements have faced electoral setbacks. The story is from the BBC.