On March 21, 2025, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first woman President, marking a historic moment for the Southern African nation. Previously serving as Vice President, she is a veteran leader of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), the ruling party since Namibia’s independence in 1990 from South Africa.
Who is Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah?
- A SWAPO stalwart who joined the movement at just 14 years old
- Former Vice President and longtime government official
- Advocate for economic and social reforms
Her leadership comes at a time when Namibia faces deep socio-economic challenges, including high unemployment (36.9% in 2023) and one of the highest inequality levels in the world (Gini coefficient: 59.1).
About Namibia
- Location: Southwestern Africa, bordered by Angola, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean
- Capital: Windhoek
- Resources: Major diamond and uranium producer
- Geography: Home to the Namib Desert, Central Plateau, and Kalahari Desert
- Namibia supplies 30% of the world’s diamonds, but the wealth distribution remains highly unequal, with white farmers owning about 70% of the farmland.
