Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has been declared the winner of last week’s elections, paving the way for Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to become the country’s first female president.
The Electoral Commission announced that Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, secured just over 57% of the votes, while her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the main opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnered 25.5%.
This victory extends the South West Africa People’s Organisation’s (SWAPO) uninterrupted rule since Namibia’s independence in 1990.
The November 27 elections were marked by logistical and technical issues, including ballot paper shortages, which resulted in long delays. Voting was extended twice to accommodate voters, some of whom waited up to 12 hours to cast their ballots.
The IPC, however, has rejected the results, alleging irregularities. Its presidential candidate, Itula, 67, described the process as fraught with a “multitude of irregularities” and accused authorities of deliberately frustrating voters.
“No matter the result, the IPC shall not recognise the outcome of that election,” Itula said on the final day of the extended vote.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s victory marks a historic moment for the mineral-rich southern African nation but has left a cloud of contention over the electoral process.
