Nandi-Ndaitwah election ‘an outstanding personal achievement, historic for Namibia’ – Nduhungirehe

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s election as the first female president of Namibia is an outstanding personal and historical achievement for her country, according to foreign minister Amb Olivier Nduhungirehe. ALSO READ: Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, sworn in as Namibia's first female president On Friday, the minister represented President Paul Kagame at the celebration of Namibia’s 35th independence anniversary and the swearing-in of Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the fifth President of Namibia. The minister delivered a special message and gift to the President of Namibia on behalf of her counterpart from Rwanda. H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the first female President of Namibia and the second serving female President on the continent, with H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, who was the guest of honour in the inauguration. Indeed, H.E. Nandi-Ndaitwah, who started the... https://t.co/B5V9qID67l pic.twitter.com/IcQwBw2m8r — Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe (@onduhungirehe) March 22, 2025 Last year, President Kagame congratulated Nandi-Ndaitwah, who was declared Namibia’s President-elect, on December 3, becoming the Southern African country’s first female top leader. ALSO READ: Kagame eyes ‘beneficial cooperation’ with Namibia’s new president At a ceremony that coincided with Namibia's 35th anniversary of independence, Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, assumed office, succeeding outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba, who had taken over power following the death of former President Hage Geingob in 2024. As Namibia's fifth president since its independence in 1990, Nandi-Ndaitwah won the 2024 presidential election with 57 percent of the vote. “H.E Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the first female President of Namibia and the second serving female President on the continent, with H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, who was the guest of honour in the inauguration,” Nduhungirehe said in a post on X, adding that Nandi-Ndaitwah, who started the liberation struggle at the age of 14, lived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, as chief representative of the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO Party) for East Africa (1980-1986), and was called Mama SWAPO by late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Founded in 1960, the South West Africa People's Organisation, officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former independence movement in Namibia. It has been the governing party in Namibia since the country achieved independence in 1990. Nandi-Ndaitwah joined the party when it was leading the struggle for independence and has since held several senior positions. Nduhungirehe said that Nandi-Ndaitwah also fought for women's rights. He added: “In 1995, she was the Rapporteur General of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, and later on became Minister of Women Affairs and Child Welfare from 2000-2005.” ‘Determination to bring about shared balanced prosperity for all’ In her inaugural speech as president, Nandi-Ndaitwah said: The task facing me, as the fifth president of the Republic of Namibia, is to preserve the gains of our independence on all fronts and to ensure that the unfinished agenda of economic and social advancement of our people is carried forward with vigor and determination to bring about shared balanced prosperity for all. I am optimistic that, as a nation, we can make our country a success. We must work together as a united people with one heart and one mind.” Nandi-Ndaitwah entered the National Assembly in 1990 and became a cabinet minister in 2000, leading the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare. She later served as minister of information and broadcasting, minister of environment and tourism, and minister of foreign affairs. In February, last year, she became Namibia's first female vice president.

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Nandi-Ndaitwah election ‘an outstanding personal achievement, historic for Namibia’ – Nduhungirehe