Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sworn in as Namibia’s first female president

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in as Namibia’s first female president and the country’s fifth leader.

Peter Shivute, Namibian chief justice, swore Nandi-Ndaitwah in on Friday during the nation’s 35th Independence Day ceremony at the State House.

Outgoing president Nangolo Mbumba, 83, handed over power to Nandi-Ndaitwah at the ceremony that was moved from the Independence Stadium because of rare heavy rains.

Nicknamed NNN, Nandi-Ndaitwah won the election late last year with more than 57 percent of the votes cast, with Panduleni Itula, her closest rival, getting 26 percent, according to the electoral commission.

However, Itula rejected the outcome, saying the election was “deeply flawed”.

Nandi-Ndaitwah joined SWAPO, Namibia’s ruling party, at 14.

At the time, Namibia was known as South West Africa and its people were under occupation from South Africa.

The party was a liberation movement resisting South Africa’s white-minority rule at the time she joined.

Nandi-Ndaitwah would later lead SWAPO’s youth league, kicking off a successful political career as an activist.

During her high school years, Nandi-Ndaitwah was arrested and detained following a crackdown on SWAPO activists. She subsequently fled the country and continued the campaign in exile.

When Namibia gained independence in 1988, she returned and joined the SWAPO-run government.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has since held various ministerial roles including in foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare and information.

The 72-year-old has pledged to transform Namibia’s economy and unite the people after political divisions split the country.

She also promised to create jobs in key sectors like agriculture, fishing and the creative and sports industries.

Speaking during the inauguration, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan said Namibia is making history by swearing in a female president in Africa.

Hassan, who is also her country’s first female leader, thanked Nandi-Ndaitwah for “setting the bar”.