Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is on the verge of making history as Namibia’s first female president, a milestone in the southern African nation of three million people.
Following Namibia’s independence in 1990, Nandi-Ndaitwah, widely known as “NNN,” became a member of the national assembly and has held various ministerial roles ever since.
Her career briefly faced a setback when she was accused of supporting a dissident faction within her party during the power struggle over the succession of President Sam Nujoma. However, Nandi-Ndaitwah weathered the storm, emerging unscathed.
With the backing of Nujoma’s successor, Hifikepunye Pohamba, she has adopted many of his traits, preferring to handle conflicts with a calm, non-confrontational approach.
Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 57.3% of the presidential vote, surpassing the 56.3% that President Geingob received five years ago.
She is set to be sworn in on 21 March 2025 as the country’s first female head of state.
Who is Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah?
Nandi-Ndaitwah was born in 1952 in the northern village of Onamutai, as the ninth of 13 children. Her father was an Anglican clergyman.
At the time, Namibia was known as South West Africa and was under South African occupation.
At just 14, Nandi-Ndaitwah joined Swapo, the liberation movement fighting against South Africa’s apartheid regime.
A passionate activist, she quickly rose to prominence as a leader of Swapo’s Youth League. While this role paved the way for a successful political career, her primary focus at the time was simply to free South West Africa.
While still in high school, Nandi-Ndaitwah was arrested and detained during a crackdown on Swapo activists. Faced with increasing persecution, she fled the country and joined fellow Swapo members in exile.
She continued her activism in Zambia and Tanzania before moving to the UK to study International Relations.
In 1988, 14 years after leaving Namibia, South Africa finally agreed to Namibia’s independence. Nandi-Ndaitwah returned home and soon joined the post-independence, Swapo-led government.
Over the years, she held various ministerial roles, including in foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information.
Nandi-Ndaitwah became a prominent advocate for women’s rights, and one of her major achievements was pushing the Combating of Domestic Violence Act through the National Assembly in 2002.
In her personal life, Nandi-Ndaitwah is married to Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, the former chief of Namibia’s defense forces. Together, they have three sons.
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