Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Makes History as Namibia’s First Female President

Ms Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in on Friday, as first the female president of Namibia.

The 72-year-old took the oath of office at the State House in Windhoek, the capital, after heavy rains forced the government to change venues.

The inauguration was attended by dignitaries, including Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, among other heads of state.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inauguration comes three months after her victory in elections that extended the South West Africa People’s Organisation’s more than three-decade hold on power.

She succeeds Mr Nangolo Mbumba, who took power last year after Mr Hage Geingob died in office.

A veteran politician, Ms Nandi-Ndaitwah has held several key government positions, including deputy prime minister and international relations minister.

The new administration has pledged to create 500,000 jobs over the next five years, invest 85 billion Namibian dollars (S$6.24 billion) in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy and other priorities, and encourage greater private-sector participation in projects.

“We pledge to diversify our economy for our people to drive maximum benefit from our country’s natural resources through value addition. The diversification of our economy will also create revenue to finance development and enhance and expand social safety nets and create jobs to take care of the unemployed”, Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

The world’s third-largest uranium supplier, Namibia is on the verge of becoming a major oil and gas producer following offshore discoveries by TotalEnergies SE and Shell Plc in the Orange Basin, with commercial production expected to begin as early as 2029.