Namibia’s presidential election saw the victory of SWAPO Party candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on December 3. The election could pave the way for the country’s first female president when she is sworn in on March 21. However, despite the victory, the country’s opposition is calling for a new round of voting.
According to the electoral commission, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah won over 57% of the vote, while her main opponent, Panduleni Itulal, won 26%.
The leader of the Independent Patriots for Change party described the election as “chaotic”, citing problems such as a lack of ballot papers and technical difficulties. Voting was also extended by three days in some parts of the country.
Panduleni Itulal called on the courts to annul the results, urging opposition parties and citizens to unite against what he called “suppression of the right to vote”.
Namibia’s SWAPO Party led the liberation struggle against apartheid South Africa and has been in power since the country’s independence in 1990.
With a population of about 3 million, only about half of Namibians are registered to vote.
The opposition has time until the presidential inauguration in March to present its case for a new round of voting. This underscores the importance of a transparent and fair electoral process to ensure legitimacy and public confidence in the country’s democratic system.