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Tag: Namibia

  • Five things to know about Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s first woman president

    Five things to know about Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s first woman president

    Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president on Friday, marking a historic milestone for the country, which gained independence 35 years ago.

    Here are five key facts about the leader of this stable and resource-rich nation of approximately three million people in southern Africa:

    – Ruling Party Veteran –
    Known popularly as NNN, she is a seasoned member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), the party that has governed Namibia since its independence from South Africa in 1990. SWAPO’s dominance ensured her victory in the November 2024 elections, where she secured 58 per cent of the votes as the party’s candidate. Nandi-Ndaitwah joined SWAPO at the age of 14 during the struggle for independence and became its first female president last year.

    – Long Government Career –
    Nandi-Ndaitwah began her political career in the national assembly in 1990 and was first appointed as a cabinet minister in 2000, heading the ministry of women’s and children’s affairs. Over the years, she has held various ministerial positions, including information, environment and tourism, and foreign affairs, as well as serving as deputy prime minister. In February 2024, she made history again by becoming Namibia’s first female vice president.

    – 72 Years Old –
    Born in October 1952, Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in at the age of 72 for a five-year term. She will lead a predominantly young nation, with over 70 per cent of the population under the age of 34, according to the 2023 census. She succeeded 83-year-old Nangolo Mbumba, who assumed office in February 2024 following the death of his predecessor, Hage Geingob, at the age of 82.

    – Conservative Views –
    The daughter of an Anglican pastor and educated at a mission school, Nandi-Ndaitwah holds conservative views on issues such as abortion, which remains largely illegal in the predominantly Christian country. Her party also voted against legalizing gay marriage in 2023.

    – Exile and International Education –
    NNN spent 15 years in exile, leaving Namibia in 1974 at the age of 21. During this time, she lived in Zambia and Tanzania, as well as in Russia, where she joined the Komsomol, a Soviet-era communist youth organization. She earned a post-graduate diploma in public administration and management from the Glasgow College of Technology in 1987 and a master’s degree in diplomatic studies from Keele University in England in 1989.

  • Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sworn in as Namibia’s first female president

    Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sworn in as Namibia’s first female president

    Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has made history as Namibia’s first female president after being sworn in during the country’s 35th Independence Day ceremony at the State House.

    Chief Justice Peter Shivute administered the oath of office on Friday, with outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba officially handing over power.

    Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, secured victory in last year’s election with 57% of the vote, defeating her closest rival, Panduleni Itula, who has since rejected the results as “deeply flawed.”

    A lifelong member of SWAPO, Namibia’s ruling party, Nandi-Ndaitwah joined at just 14 during the country’s fight against South African occupation. She later led SWAPO’s youth league and was arrested during her activism before fleeing into exile. Since independence in 1988, she has held key ministerial positions, including in foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information.

    In her inaugural address, Nandi-Ndaitwah pledged to boost Namibia’s economy, create jobs, and foster unity in a politically divided nation. She aims to expand employment opportunities in agriculture, fishing, and the creative and sports industries.

    Tanzanian President Samia Hassan, Africa’s only other female head of state, hailed Nandi-Ndaitwah’s rise to power, stating that she is “setting the bar” for women in leadership.

  • Female Presidents in Africa you may not know about

    Female Presidents in Africa you may not know about

    Namibia has made history with the election of its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, marking a significant milestone for women in leadership positions in the country of Namibia and across Africa.

    Throughout Africa’s history, there have been several female presidents. Here is the list:

    First Female Presidents
    – Slyvie Kiningi: Acting President of Burundi from February to October 1993, technically making her the first female president on the continent.
    – Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi: Acting President of South Africa in September 2005, serving temporarily when the President and Vice President were out of the country.

    Elected Female Presidents
    – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Africa’s first elected female President, serving two consecutive terms in Liberia from 2006 to 2018.
    – Joyce Hilda Banda: Served as President of Malawi from 2012 to 2014, becoming the country’s fourth President and first female Vice President.
    – Ameenah Gurib-Fakim: First female President of Mauritius, serving from 2015 to 2018.
    – Sahle-Work Zewde: First elected female President of Ethiopia, in office since 2018.
    – Samia Suluhu Hassan: First female President of Tanzania, in office since 2021.

    – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah: First female President of Namibia following last week’s contentious election

    Interim and Acting Female Presidents
    – Rose Francine Rogombe: Interim President of Gabon from June to October 2009.
    – Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau: Acting President of Mauritius from March to July 2012 and May to June 2015.
    – Catherine Samba Panza: Acting Head of State of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016.

    These women have paved the way for future generations of female leaders in Africa, breaking down barriers and challenging traditional gender roles. Their contributions to African politics and society are undeniable, and their legacies will continue to inspire and empower women across the continent.

  • Namibia elects first female president in disputed poll

    Namibia elects first female president in disputed poll

    Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) has been elected as Namibia’s first female president following last week’s contentious election.

    According to the electoral commission, she secured over 57% of the vote, while her closest competitor, Panduleni Itula, garnered 26%.

    Itula criticized the electoral process, calling it “deeply flawed” after logistical challenges led to a three-day extension of polling in some areas. His Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party has announced plans to contest the results in court.

    Most opposition parties boycotted the results announcement held on Tuesday evening in the capital, Windhoek, according to The Namibian newspaper.

    On Wednesday, Windhoek remained calm, with no visible celebrations or protests, and daily life continued as usual.

    In her victory speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah stated, “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability.”

    Swapo has governed the large but sparsely populated southern African nation since its independence in 1990.

    A party veteran and current vice-president, Nandi-Ndaitwah has held senior government positions for over 25 years.

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Nandi-Ndaitwah on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

    “Your election as fifth President of the Republic and the first woman in our region to hold this high office is a testament to democracy and its ability to transform our societies,” his statement read.

    Once sworn in, Nandi-Ndaitwah will join an exclusive group, with Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan currently the only female president in Africa.

    In parliamentary elections held simultaneously, Swapo retained a slim majority, securing 51 out of 96 elected seats—a decrease of 12. The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) won 20 seats, positioning itself as the official opposition.

    Tirivangani Masawi, a political journalist based in Windhoek, described the outcome as Swapo’s “worst performance since independence” on the BBC Newsday programme.

    Panduleni Itula, a trained dentist, is considered more charismatic than Nandi-Ndaitwah. In the 2019 presidential election, he significantly reduced Swapo’s dominance, cutting their vote share from 87% to 56%.

    The IPC has announced its intention to “pursue justice through the courts” and urged individuals who felt disenfranchised due to electoral commission mismanagement to file police reports.

    Claus Goldbeck from the IPC described the voting process as an “organizational mess” in an interview with the BBC.

    He highlighted issues such as people waiting in line for 14 hours due to insufficient ballot papers and malfunctioning scanners at numerous polling stations.

    “The Electoral Commission of Namibia [ECN] had four years to fix things,” he said.

    The ECN admitted to failures in the organisation of the votes and ballot shortages. But the chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, denied any allegations of fraud.

    “I urge all Namibians to embrace the results with the spirit of unity, diversity, understanding and reconciliation,” she said.

    Swapo, which led Namibia’s liberation struggle against apartheid South Africa, faced considerable scrutiny ahead of last Wednesday’s general election. There was speculation that it might follow the trend of other regional liberation movements losing dominance.

    In May, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) lost its outright parliamentary majority, marking a significant political shift. Similarly, Botswana’s Democratic Party was ousted from power in October after nearly six decades of rule.

  • Namibia’s Mboma to make competitive return after 20 months out

    Namibia’s Olympic 200m silver medalist, Christine Mboma, is poised to make her competitive comeback after a hiatus of 20 months.

    Mboma, who secured the runner-up position at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is classified as a female athlete with differences in sexual development (DSD).

    She was sidelined from last year’s World Championships following World Athletics’ decision to lower the permissible blood testosterone levels for DSD athletes.

    The 20-year-old has not participated in any competitions since winning the 200m bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022.

    However, event organizers have confirmed that Mboma, who announced last year her use of testosterone-lowering medication, will be competing in the 100m event at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya on April 20.

    Mboma’s coach, Henk Botha, expressed his surprise at the rule changes affecting female athletes with elevated testosterone levels, which prevented her from competing in Budapest last year.

    DSD encompasses a range of rare conditions where an individual’s hormones, genes, and/or reproductive organs may display a mixture of male and female characteristics. Some individuals affected by these conditions prefer the term “intersex.”

    During Tokyo 2020, Mboma clocked a time of 21.81 seconds in the women’s 200m, securing the silver medal behind Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah.

  • Senate President Akpabio leads presidential delegation to Namibia for late President Geingob’s burial

    Senate President Akpabio leads presidential delegation to Namibia for late President Geingob’s burial

    President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio will today lead a presidential delegation to attend the state funeral of the late President of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob, who passed away on February 4, 2024, at the age of 83.

    In a statement released on Saturday, Eseme Eyiboh, media aide to Akpabio, announced that the trip was initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu appointed Akpabio as his Special Envoy and Leader of the Nigerian delegation to the event in Windhoek, Namibia, as stated in a letter dated February 22, 2024.

    Accompanying Akpabio are Mr. Zephaniah Jisalo, the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, and Mr. Ya’u Shehu Darazo, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs.

    According to the Program of Events, a Memorial Service in honor of the late leader will take place at Independence Stadium on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 14:00 hours. Similarly, the Burial Service will be held at Heroes’ Acre, Windhoek, on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 10:00 hours.

    Eyibo clarified that the purpose of the trip is to demonstrate Nigeria’s solidarity with the government and people of Namibia. It also aims to convey President Tinubu’s heartfelt condolences and his sincere personal regards to the people of Namibia.

  • Namibia swears in new President hours after Hage Geingob’s death

    Namibia swears in new President hours after Hage Geingob’s death

    Namibia on Sunday swore in former Vice President Nangolo Mbumba as the new president of the country following the demise of President Hage Geingob.

    “I take on this heavy mantle, cognisant of the weight of this responsibility, to serve all the People of the Republic of Namibia with utmost dedication and commitment, in the service of all citizens of the Namibian House,” Mr Mbumba said in his acceptance speech.

    The 82-year-old president pledged to continue building on the excellent foundation established by his predecessors.

    Mbumba also announced the appointment of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, former deputy prime minister, as vice president.

    “I am not going to be around for the elections so don’t panic,” he said at his swearing-in ceremony.

    He praised his predecessor for the calm and stability the country enjoys.

    “This is owing to the visionary leadership and foresight of President Geingob, who was the chief architect of the Namibian Constitution and the champion of our Governance Architecture, based on stable Processes, Systems and institutions, that are guiding us today,” he said.

    The late President Geingob passed on Sunday while receiving cancer treatment in Namibia.

    He had just returned from the US where the presidency said he had gone for some treatment.

  • AFCON 2023: Zwane goal helps South Africa whip Namibia

    Themba Zwane found the net twice in the opening 16 minutes of the first half, propelling South Africa to a resounding victory over Namibia and securing their initial points in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    Percy Tau, who had a missed penalty in Bafana Bafana’s initial defeat against Mali, initiated the onslaught with an early penalty.

    Zwane, connecting with Thapelo Morena’s cross, delivered a powerful finish and added his second with a skillful clip after a dynamic run into the box.

    The fourth goal came from substitute Thapelo Maseko, as Lloyd Kazapua struggled to handle his strike from Teboho Mokoena’s long ball.

    Both teams are assured a spot in the last 16 if they emerge victorious in their decisive matches for the knockout stage on Wednesday (17:00 GMT).

    South Africa will face Tunisia, and Namibia will meet Mali. The Brave Warriors can secure automatic progression by surpassing the result of the 1996 champions, while either nation retains hope of qualifying among the four best third-placed teams if they narrowly miss out on the top two positions.

    Swaggering South Africa off mark in style

    Forward Tau seized an opportunity for redemption after referee Youcef Gamouh penalized Riaan Hanamub for a handball while defending against a Morena delivery. This decision came after a VAR check.

    Morena executed an impressive run down the right, cutting the ball back for Zwane to extend the lead. The 34-year-old then calmly added his second from close range, completing a dazzling first-half attacking display. Morena had a curling effort tipped over, and Sphephelo Sithole missed a free header in front of goal.

    Namibia had initially taken an attacking stance, with Prins Tjiueza forcing a fourth-minute save from Ronwen Williams. Hanamub, one of 10 players from the underdog squad playing in South African club football, played a ball through the legs of Mothobi Mvala to set up Absalom Limbondi with the score at 1-0. However, the midfielder sent his shot over the crossbar despite the goal being wide open.

    Shortly afterward, Hanamub delivered another cross that captain Peter Shalulile, a feared striker for the South African top-flight team Mamelodi Sundowns, could not connect with.

    The pace of the match decelerated in the second half, as South Africa opted to adopt a more defensive approach against opponents who lacked decisiveness.

    Under Hugo Broos’ guidance, the players secured the most substantial win in their country’s Afcon finals history, marking the widest margin of victory in any of the 24 matches played at the 2023 edition thus far.

    The sole instance of a four-goal victory in the 2021 tournament occurred during the group stage when Tunisia triumphed 4-0 over Mauritania.

  • AFCON 2023: Namibia defeat Tunisia 1-0

    Namibia caused a major upset when Deon Hotto’s header in the 88th minute secured a victory over Tunisia in their opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Brave Warriors, holding the 115th position in the global rankings and having not secured a victory in any of their preceding nine Afcon matches, proved themselves deserving winners in Korhogo.

    Although striker Peter Shalulile had an earlier attempt cleared off the line, Deon Hotto seized the opportunity from Bethuel Muzeu’s cross.

    Despite Tunisia being 87 places higher than Namibia in FIFA’s standings and being the 2004 champions, the astonishing outcome has propelled Namibia to second place in the table on goal difference, following Mali’s 2-0 victory over South Africa in the subsequent Group E fixture at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.

    Hotto the hero as underdogs astonish

    Even amidst the early surprises in Ivory Coast, envisioning a victory for a team that had previously failed to advance beyond the group stage in three attempts against more seasoned and decorated opponents seemed far-fetched.

    Namibia’s return to the Afcon, following their absence in 2021, pitted them against a side making its 16th consecutive appearance—a tournament record. This opposing team had reached the quarter-finals in three of the last four editions and secured a fourth-place finish in 2019.

    Shalulile, representing South African PSL club Mamelodi Sundowns and boasting four goals in six qualifiers, established the tempo in the first half. The underdogs, Namibia, had superior chances, with Shalulile testing Tunisia’s Bechir Ben Said with an early shot and compelling him to make another leg save shortly afterward.

    Namibia’s manager, Collin Benjamin, had promised that his team, known as the Brave Warriors, would live up to their nickname and rigorously challenge any opponent. The coaching staff and substitutes appeared dismayed as Deon Hotto narrowly missed connecting with Absalom Iimbondi, both players being in promising shooting positions with ample space.

    Montassar Talbi’s hurried intervention was the only thing preventing Shalulile’s finish from granting Namibia an early second-half lead. The chance was set up by Iimbondi’s dynamic run and cross, showcasing Namibia’s continued ability to penetrate the box and create threats at will.

    After the break, Tunisia posed a greater threat, with Youssef Msakni almost immediately attempting a close-range header that the impressive Lloyd Kazapua managed to push over the crossbar.

    Haythem Jouini’s shot went wide in front of the goal, and Msakni, aiming to score at a record-equalling sixth Afcon, missed an opportunity, being thwarted by Kazapua once again during a sustained period of pressure from the Carthage Eagles.

    Just when the shift in momentum might have caused Namibia fans to worry that their team’s outstanding performance would not be rewarded, Collin Benjamin’s players rallied. They delivered a late succession of probing crosses into the penalty area, and Deon Hotto capitalized on a cross from Bethuel Muzeu. Hotto found himself unmarked and powered in the emphatic winner, triggering exuberant celebrations.

    Tunisia, whose five-match streak of clean sheets came to an end, will return to action at the same venue to face Mali on Saturday (20:00 GMT). Namibia, on the other hand, will play their second game at the same venue against South Africa 24 hours later.

     

  • Namibia eliminated from CHAN after losing to Tanzania

    Namibia were eliminated from the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Saturday after losing 0-1 to Tanzania in a historic match in Cameroon.

    A second-half strike by Farid Mussa was all the Taifa Stars needed to win the first all-female match officials in a CAF senior men’s game played at the Limbe Stadium.

    The result means both Zambia and Guinea maintain their places at the top of the group with four points apiece while Tanzania keep alive their hopes of advancing with three points in third place.

    Namibia have no points after two matches and have thus been eliminated from the competition because they cannot finish at least second the group even if they win their final match.

    With history being made as for the first time in African football all the match officials were females in a senior men’s CAF competition, a lot was expected from the game.

    The female refereeing trio of referee Lidya Tafesse (Ethiopia) and assistant referees Bernadettar Asimenye Kwimbira (Malawi) and Mimisen Agatha Iyorhe (Nigeria) was in charge of the match.

    But the early exchanges did not inspire confidence.

    The best chance of the first-half fell to the Taifa Stars in the 29th minute, but striker Mussa’s flick was blocked by goalkeeper Kamaijanda Ndisiro before it was cleared away.

    The Brave Warriors goalkeeper also saved from Ayubu Lyanga and Saidi Juma, with Marcel Papama testing Aishi Manula at the other end in a goalless first half.

    Just after the break, Namibia captain Absalom Limbondi forced the goalkeeper into a double-fisted save from a free-kick at the edge of the box following the Warriors resolve to throw more men forward.

    On 63 minutes, Lyanga found some space in the penalty box and wriggled past two defenders before unleashing piledriver which Ndisiro dived to save with aplomb.

    Tanzania broke the deadlock two minutes later when the Namibia goalkeeper failed to deal effectively with an inviting cross from the right by Lyanga

    Ndisiro tried to punch with one hand and the ball fell in the path of Mussa who hammered home to spark some frenzied celebration.

    Namibia could have equalised in the 77th minute when substitute Isaskar Guribab teased goalkeeper Manula out of his spot but the midfielder’s final touch went just wide.

    The Taifa Stars goalkeeper was called into action two minutes later and he produced a marvelous save from Absalom Limbondi’s free-kick near the goal of the East Africans.

    Gurirab produced a fantastic but desperate bicycle kick with two minutes remaining as the Brave Warriors pressed in search of the elusive equaliser.

    Manula’s heroics sealed the fate of the Brave Warriors who are now eliminated from the competition losing their second straight match in the four-team group without scoring a goal.

    Namibia will play Zambia in their final group game at the Limbe Stadium on Wednesday.

    Guinea travel to the Stade de la Réunification in Douala to face Tanzania in the matches that will be played simultaneously.