This week, Namibia stands on the brink of a historic milestone as the governing party aims to usher in the nation’s first female head of state.
However, a prevailing disillusionment regarding liberation movements in southern Africa, combined with a widespread anti-incumbency sentiment across various regions, could jeopardize what would otherwise be considered a historic achievement.
At 72 years old, Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the flag-bearer for Swapo, the party that has governed Namibia since its independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan is Africa’s sole female president, meaning that Nandi-Ndaitwah would enter a rarefied circle should she win.
The party, which had maintained a stronghold for thirty years, experienced a significant decline in support during the most recent general election. It goes into Wednesday’s vote amid an unemployment rate of 19% – almost the same as it was 30 years ago – troubled government finances, questions about corruption, and high levels of inequality.
Nandi-Ndaitwah faces significant competition from her primary rival, Panduleni Itula, who represents the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, among 14 candidates in the race.
She faces significant challenges within a political landscape that is both traditional and predominantly male-oriented in the country.
She is regarded as a trusted leader in this sparsely populated and peaceful nation, having held high government office for 25 years.
“I have always believed in teamwork; it has enabled me to reach my accomplishments,” she stated.
The vice president, recognized for her practical and engaged approach to leadership, demonstrates a solid loyalty to the party she became a member of during her teenage years.
At the age of 14, she joined the movement opposing the governance imposed by South Africa, which had controlled the territory—formerly referred to as South West Africa—since the conclusion of World War One and subsequently implemented the discriminatory apartheid regime.
Her tenacity and organizational skills as Swapo’s Youth League leader garnered recognition as a pivotal foundation for her political career. This journey has encompassed various ministerial roles, including foreign affairs, tourism, child welfare, and information.
She has accumulated significant knowledge and experience that could prove advantageous if she assumes a leadership role.
“She appears to be wise, sweet, and kind, particularly in her efforts to communicate in a manner that even someone like me can grasp,” Laimi, a potential voter, remarked to the BBC in Windhoek, the capital.
Maria, a close friend, remarked, “Itula resembles a stunning new piece of jewelry, adorned with his stylish glasses, tailored suit, and assured stride, yet there’s a chance he dazzles you with his brilliance.”
Two young adults are currently facing challenges in securing employment.
Itula, a 67-year-old trained dentist, was previously a prominent member of the Swapo party. However, he faced expulsion in 2020 after he ran as an independent candidate in the 2019 election against then-President Hage Geingob.
He served as a youth leader and spent a period incarcerated before his exile in the UK in the early 1980s. In 2013, he made his return to Namibia.
After a six-year hiatus, he made a dramatic entrance into the forefront of Namibian politics, taking on Geingob in the presidential election. He criticized the Swapo process for selecting its candidate, labeling it flawed.
Itula’s involvement in the election resulted in Swapo securing its lowest percentage ever, at 56%, in the presidential race while also causing the party to lose its two-thirds majority in parliament.
With a background beyond the political sphere, he resonates with the younger demographic of the 1.5 million voters, notably the 50% under 35. This group is increasingly seeking economic reform, job opportunities, and tangible improvements to their financial situations.
His audacious and occasionally confrontational approach, dismissing the more conventional political discourse of Nandi-Ndaitwah, has garnered him backing from business leaders and the expanding urban intellectual community.
While Itula demonstrates quick wit and eloquence, the vice president opts for a more measured approach, choosing her words carefully and deliberately speaking.
Nandi-Ndaitwah advocates for unity and collaboration, highlighting the importance of community, enthusiasm, and compassion, thereby connecting deeply with grassroots efforts.
As the first woman poised to ascend to the presidency potentially, she embodies the aspirations of many women seeking a departure from the entrenched patriarchal norms of society.
Nandi-Ndaitwah embodies the established and reliable figures from Namibia’s liberation struggle, whereas Itula symbolizes a potential shift in a political landscape that needs rejuvenation.
Political analyst Henning Melber suggests that the intense competition between the two frontrunners may lead to an unprecedented second-round run-off in the presidential election. This scenario arises if no candidate secures more than half of the votes.
In neighboring South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), which has held power since 1994, was compelled to form a coalition government after the general election in May. In Botswana, located just to the east, the Botswana Democratic Party, which has held power for nearly sixty years, suffered a significant defeat at the end of last month.
Swapo aims to steer clear of a similar outcome.
The candidate who emerges victorious on Wednesday will be deemed most reliable on critical issues, including youth unemployment, corruption, health care, education, and infrastructure enhancement, all while demonstrating the ability to strengthen the economy.
The process must be executed without selling the nation’s extensive natural resources to international investors, including off-shore gas, lithium, and other critical metals.
Itula’s IPC was absent from the 2019 elections; however, it has demonstrated significant strength in subsequent local elections, presenting itself as a viable political alternative. The management of certain local governments has garnered considerable acclaim.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s most significant strength appears to be her reputation for integrity, as noted by Namibian diplomat Tuliameni Kalomoh, who described her as “incorruptible, both morally and materially.”
