Namibia has marked an important step in its history on March 21, when Netumbo Nandi-Nndaitwah was sworn in as the country’s first president. At 72, she joined a small group of African women’s women, after Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Joyce Banda (Malawi) and Samia Suluhu Hassan (Tanzania), who all attended her inauguration.
Nandi-Nndaitwah obtained 57% of the votes, beating its main rival, Panduleni Itile of independent patriots for change (IPC), which raised 26%. Itula, a former member of the People’s Organization for South West Africa (Swapo), has struggled to dislodge the ruling party, which has held power since Namibia acquired independence in 1990. Swapo, founded in 1960, has been the dominant force in Namibian politics for more than 64 years. The elections, tainted by a controversial three-day voting extension, were faced with opposition demonstrations, but the victory of Nandi-Nndaitwah was held, reaffirming Swapo’s grip on power despite his drop in the electoral base.
One of his first movements was a reshuffle of the cabinet, reducing the number of ministers from 21 to 14 and giving it a female majority for the first time, with eight women and six men. This decision indicates a push for the inclusiveness of the sexes and, its supporters, hope, greater effectiveness of governance and economic stability.
The leadership of Nandi-Nndaitwah will be tested while Namibia will face major economic and social challenges, including an unemployment rate of 30%, 46% young people unemployment, slow growth in GDP and a 71% increase in GDP ratio. She ends up with a major challenge: creating jobs, fighting inequality and stimulating economic reforms.