Netumbo makes history!

Namibians are living in interesting political times.The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has announced official presidential and National Assembly election results that marked the start of a new era in the country’s body politics.Namibia&#039;s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (NNN) has won the presidential seat with 57.31%, making her the first democratically elected female president for the Republic of Namibia.The ruling Swapo Party of Namibia won 51 elective seats in the 96-member National Assembly. From the look of things, the recently concluded elections were undoubtedly the most hotly contested since the dawn of Namibia’s independence. Clearly the Namibian democratic and political environment is constantly shifting and evolving with the passing of time.Namibia&#039;s democratic spaceThe people of Namibia have spoken through their votes; they have demonstrated clearly and plainly that our democracy is strong, maturing, and robust, and it is enduring. The election of NNN to the highest office in the land has signalled an interesting shift in the Namibian body politic.A wise man once observed that no one can ‘kill’ an idea whose opportune time has arrived. This is true for Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s triumph against all odds. It has been a hard road. Indeed, trying times need courage and resilience as exhibited by her.It is also argued that tough times don’t last long, but tough people do.After a long journey characterised by turbulence, it is now a matter of formality – NNN’s dream of one day leading Namibia as state president has been realised. On 21 March 2025, NNN is destined to be sworn in as the first democratically elected female president of Namibia. Her rise to the presidency is largely attributed to her deeply enriching political career and her leadership traits.At the last Swapo Party campaign rally held in Windhoek, NNN, the then presidential candidate, issued a passionate appeal to all Namibian voters to go out and vote in support of her candidacy and the ruling party to continue building on the successes of her predecessors. From humble beginningsBorn in the small village of Onamutayi, located in what is now the Oshana Region of northern Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, now aged 72, hails from a rich cultural, political and Christian background. Her story is remarkable – one of grit, determination, perseverance, resilience and courage.Inspired by Julius Nyerere, whose political philosophy profoundly influenced her later political career, and educated and groomed by Swapo, NNN firmly upholds solidarity, freedom and justice as fundamental principles for Namibia&#039;s progress and the development of its people.Her rise to the Namibian presidency should not surprise well-informed scholars of African politics. Early in her political career, NNN worked very hard to advocate for women&#039;s empowerment – she was the first to lead the department of women&#039;s affairs under Nujoma&#039;s presidency.Throughout her political career, NNN has achieved greatness at home, across the African region and on the international stage.She fought tirelessly for the total emancipation of women, including breaking societal structures characterised by patriarchy.Undoubtedly, NNN has been an outspoken voice for women’s rights. She led high-level delegations at international platforms, notably the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action in 1995. The fourth global conference in Beijing marked a significant turning point for the global agenda on gender equality. It seems she is now reaping the fruits of the seeds she planted many years ago.Compelling lessons for the Namibian youthPresident-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah has once again shown the youth what can be achieved through humbleness, hard work, discipline, patience, ethical and focused leadership.As a disciplined cadre of Swapo, she has always believed in the principles of leadership continuity and orderly succession, aligning with the hierarchical structure of Swapo Party politics.Throughout her political career, both in exile and at home, she has been an effective team player – the leadership qualities Swapo and Namibia need in the current political landscape are clearly reflected in NNN’s leadership traits.Throughout her political career, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has exhibited ethical leadership, which is critical for public trust. As a leader of note, NNN has excelled with flying colours and rose through the ranks to become the country’s Vice-President, the highest office ever to be occupied by a woman in Namibia. NNN is an accomplished leader, a seasoned politician who has been recognised for her high achievements in public service, both locally and internationally.Your Excellency From now until the presidential inauguration ceremony on 21 March 2025, people are free to address NNN as Madam President-elect! Others might simply prefer to say: Good day, Your Excellency!NNN possesses the most essential qualities and ingredients of a good leader, such as high integrity and accountability.Her track record in both Swapo and government demonstrates her strong attributes of integrity and clean governance. This is what she hopes to promote within the collective as we continue to build a responsive, reputable and capable development state amongst the nations of the world.She has pushed her team to align with the theme of the Swapo Party Manifesto, which reads: Unity in Diversity, Natural Resources Beneficiation, Youth Empowerment, Sustainable Development.What does the win mean for Namibia?The election of NNN as President of Namibia marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. As the first woman to hold the highest office in the land, her leadership brings fresh hope, not just for gender equality but also for the revitalisation of Namibia’s economic and social landscape. By electing the first female president, Namibia has raised the bar in the Southern African region, and other countries may draw inspiration from it.Her miraculous rise to the highest office in the land is not an end in itself.NNN now faces the daunting task of crafting a strong strategy that demands state choices and priorities, which will, in the end, define her presidential legacy as she prepares for her first term in office.President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is now faced with a formidable responsibility to form a government comprised of a high-performance team to tackle the most difficult challenges facing the Namibian people. Truth be told, African societies are presently yearning for ethical and visionary leadership driven by result-orientated outcomes in terms of service delivery.The road aheadA lot of work awaits the next government – to help pull vulnerable people out of the morass of poverty and continue building a capable, stable, developed and prosperous state of Namibia.Many Namibians face multiple socio-economic challenges, which require an effective and responsive government. It would appear as if the common denominator emanating from the just-ended presidential and National Assembly elections is that most Namibians are in distress due to lack of socio-economic opportunities and expect a high-performance team chosen based on merit and strong credentials to meet the urgent tasks at hand.It is highly likely that the hallmark of her presidency, amongst other things, shall be defined by ethical leadership, effective service delivery, and result-driven outcomes and may demand accountability from her appointees who serve at her behest.Her next accomplishments shall be measured by the extent to which tangible progress shall be made to improve the living conditions of all Namibians under her presidency. Will this usher in the new era of progress for Namibia? Only time will tell.*Fluksman Samuehl is a former member of parliament and scholar of international relations and strategic studies. The views expressed here are his own.

Netumbo makes history!

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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Netumbo makes history!

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-04

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