WINDHOEK – Namibia swore in its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on Friday, marking a pivotal moment for the Southwest African nation. The 72-year-old leader assumes office as Namibia anticipates a notable oil and gas boom, but also grapples with deep-seated issues of unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Her election places her in a unique position, being only the second directly elected female president in Africa.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, a veteran of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), brings decades of experience to the presidency. SWAPO has been the ruling party since Namibia’s independence in 1990, following a protracted struggle against apartheid South Africa. Nandi-Ndaitwah joined SWAPO at just 14, dedicating her life to the liberation movement.

Facing these realities, Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the weight of expectation. “If things go well then it will be seen as a good example,” she stated in an interview. “But if anything then happens, like it can happen in any management under men, there are also those who would rather say: ‘Look at women!'”

Nandi-Ndaitwah secured a decisive victory in November’s election, garnering 58% of the vote.Though, the challenges ahead are considerable. While SWAPO has made strides in improving the lives of the Black majority, the disparities created by apartheid continue to cast a long shadow, particularly concerning wealth and land ownership.

the Enduring Legacy of Land Inequality

Land ownership remains a contentious issue in Namibia. “Truly, land is a serious problem in this country,” Nandi-Ndaitwah conceded. “We still have some white citizens and more particularly the absent land owners who are occupying the land.”

Statistics highlight the stark reality. While the white population constitutes a small minority, government figures indicate that white farmers own about 70% of the country’s farmland. The 2023 census identified 53,773 Namibians as white, representing just 1.8% of the population.

Nandi-Ndaitwah has expressed commitment to the “willing-buyer, willing-seller” principle in land redistribution. This approach, designed to avoid forced sales, aims to address historical imbalances through market mechanisms. However, critics argue that this method has been slow and ineffective in achieving equitable land distribution. A similar approach was implemented in Zimbabwe in the early 2000s, but resulted in a collapse of the agricultural sector due to forced land seizures and lack of expertise among the new landowners. Namibia hopes to avoid the same fate using the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle.

Indicator
Value

Gini Coefficient (2015)
59.1

Projected Poverty Rate (2024)
17.2%

Unemployment Rate (2023)
36.9%

Namibia’s inequality extends beyond land ownership. the World Bank identifies Namibia as one of the moast unequal countries globally, with a Gini coefficient of 59.1 in 2015. The institution projects that poverty will remain stubbornly high, at 17.2% in 2024. moreover, the country’s statistics agency reported that the unemployment rate climbed to 36.9% in 2023, up from 33.4% in 2018.

Diversifying the Economy and Investing in Education

President Nandi-Ndaitwah has articulated a vision for economic diversification, emphasizing the need to move beyond reliance on mineral exports. She advocates for adding value to the country’s natural resources rather than simply exporting raw materials. This strategy mirrors efforts in other resource-rich nations in Africa, such as Nigeria, which is seeking to expand its manufacturing base to process its vast oil reserves.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also wants Namibia to focus more on creative industries and get the education sector to adjust to new economic realities.

To address these critical issues,Namibia may look to examples from the U.S. For instance, community college programs across the United States are frequently lauded for thier capacity to provide specialized training that is tailored to local industry needs. Likewise,the country may consider adopting policies that spur entrepreneurship and encourage small business growth by drawing inspiration from programs like the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the US.

A Milestone for Women in African Leadership

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s election underscores a significant step forward for women in African leadership.She joins a small but growing group of female presidents on the continent,including Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu hassan,who assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor. Ellen Johnson sirleaf of Liberia was Africa’s first directly elected female president.

Nandi-Ndaitwah hopes her presidency will serve as an inspiration. She stated that it was a “good thing that we as countries are realising that just as men [can do], women can also hold the position of authority”.