Namibia’s SWAPO Party Secures Victory, Paving Way for First Female President Amid Election Disputes

Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has been declared the winner of last week’s elections, positioning Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to become the country’s first female president.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) announced on Tuesday that Nandi-Ndaitwah won over 57% of the vote, while her main rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), secured 25.5%.

While the victory extends SWAPO’s dominance since Namibia’s independence in 1990, the election has been marred by controversy. The IPC has rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities.

“Itula, 67, declared on Saturday, November 30, that his party would not recognize the election outcome and vowed to challenge it through legal channels.

The November 27 election faced logistical challenges, including ballot paper shortages and malfunctioning electronic tablets for voter registration, causing delays of up to 12 hours. These issues led some voters to abandon polling stations altogether.

Although the ECN acknowledged organizational shortcomings, it reported that nearly 77% of registered voters participated. However, observers from a southern African human rights group alleged the delays were deliberate and systematic.