By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU
A veteran politician, Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been inaugurated as Namibia’s first female president, becoming the first woman to occupy this top office in that country and marking that nation’s history. Her election makes Namibia the second country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to have a female head of state, following Tanzania’s President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah has also appointed a woman as her Vice President, Lucia Witbooi.
Namibia has officially cemented its place in history as the first African country to have both a woman President and a woman Vice President.
These developments were welcomed by many people who indicated that they reflect a progressive shift towards inclusive leadership in the region and the continent.
Namibia and Lesotho, both members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and SADC, share a commitment to democratic governance and regional cooperation.
In a similar stride towards gender equality, Lesotho saw its first female Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Nthomeng Majara, following the October 2022 general elections. Majara, who also previously made history as the nation’s first female Chief Justice.
Namibia, dubbed the Land of the Brave, as it celebrates its 35 years of independence, they have done so by having two women serving in their highest office of the land, as President and Vice President.
In her inaugural speech, Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is the fifth President of Namibia pointed out that she has a deep sense of responsibility towards the people of Namibia who placed their trust in her.
“My ascendance to the highest office in the land is the culmination of years of struggle by generations of Namibians, men and women, for the political, social and economic liberation of our people. I would like to pay homage to all of them, those who have passed on and the living.
“With [the] profound statements of our leaders, the progress that we have made as a nation was a result of collective efforts. Individual members of our society responded to the call and each arm of the state, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary made significant contributions to the political, social and economic development of our country. Similarly, the private sector, churches, traditional authorities and other non-state actors have also been important constituencies in nation-building efforts. I therefore pledge to continue to work with all these institutions to make a success of our country,” she said.
She continued: “I have been an advocate for equality between men and women. I believe that it is not good for society to underplay the role that one segment of the population can play in the social, political and economic fabric of society. The SWAPO Party Congress of 2002 took a bold decision to amend the Party’s Constitution to provide for 50/50 representation in leadership in all Party structures.
“The SWAPO Party led government also followed this policy in the running of the government. The result has been encouraging, as many women including myself have been occupying strategic positions in government. We may all know that equality between women and men and the empowerment of women is work in progress all over the world. However, in Namibia, we have made good progress, but still, a lot remains to be done.”
She expressed her belief that her election as President of her country would inspire women from all walks of life to step forward and be counted. She emphasised that her victory was not based on her being a woman but on merit. She stressed that women should not seek positions of responsibility simply because of their gender but rather because they are capable and competent members of society who can effectively hold such roles.
Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah previously served as vice president, minister of international relations and deputy prime minister, amongst other portfolios.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, born on 29 October 1952 in Onamutai, Namibia, joined Swapo at just 14 years old, committing her life to the country’s liberation and development. While in exile, she held significant leadership positions within Swapo, representing the party in Central and East Africa. She also played a key role in major international negotiations, including the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435.
In his farewell address on 20 March 2025, outgoing Namibian President Dr Nangolo Mbumba reflected on his tenure, highlighting the nation’s progress towards gender equality and expressing confidence in the incoming leadership of President Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Tanzanian President, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan extended heartfelt congratulations to President Nandi-Ndaitwah on her inauguration, emphasising the historic nature of her presidency and expressing pride in her achievement.