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Times of Oman
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Namibia's first woman president takes office
Windhoek: The 72-year-old Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, nicknamed NNN, was sworn in on Friday as the first woman president of the southern African nation of Namibia. Her SWAPO party, which has ruled the country of about 3 million people for over three decades, won both the presidential and parliamentary elections in November. Nandi-Ndaitwah, who previously served as vice president, won 58% of the vote. Outgoing 83-year-old President Nangolo Mbumba handed over power in a ceremony that coincided with Namibia's 35th anniversary of independence and was moved from the Independence Stadium to State House in Windhoek due to rare heavy rains. Nandi-Ndaitwah is the latest in a small list of women to hold the presidency in Africa. Others include Ellen Sirleaf Johnson in Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi, and Samia Suluhu Hassan in Tanzania. Sirleaf and Banda, now former leaders of their countries, and Tanzania's current president, Hassan, all attended Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration. Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration came a day after the Namibian parliament elected its first female speaker, former Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila. What did Nandi-Ndaitwah say? In her first address as president, Nandi-Ndaitwah vowed to focus on reducing youth unemployment and making major investments in green energy, agriculture and infrastructure. "We will increase investment in the development of infrastructure to open investment opportunities, enhance economic productivity, promote economic growth and improve the quality of life of our people," she said. The president also called for the country to implement universal health coverage. She committed to diversifying the economy, enabling citizens to "derive maximum benefits from our country's natural resources, through value addition." The president said Namibia would continue to contribute to efforts to combat climate change, an ongoing threat to the arid country that regularly experiences droughts. Nandi-Ndaitwah also used her speech to express support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinians and the people of Western Sahara and called for the lifting of international sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Veteran politician in young nation Nandi-Ndaitwah is only the fifth president of Namibia, which was a German colony until the end of World War One. She is a veteran of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), which led Namibia to independence in 1990 and has been the ruling party ever since. Namibia's first woman president joined SWAPO as a teenager in the 1960s and lived in exile in Zambia, Tanzania, the former Soviet Union and the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s. She has been a lawmaker in Namibia since 1990 and held several Cabinet posts, including those of environment minister and foreign affairs minister, before being appointed vice president. Nandi-Ndaitwah's husband is a retired general who once commanded Namibia's armed forces and was officially given the title of "first gentleman."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is sworn in as Namibia's first female leader
WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) — Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia's first female president on Friday, reaching the highest office in her land nearly 60 years after she joined the liberation movement fighting for independence from apartheid South Africa. The 72-year-old Nandi-Ndaitwah won an election in November to become one of just a handful of female leaders in Africa after the likes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi and Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania. Sirleaf and Banda, now former leaders of their countries, and current Tanzania President Hassan all attended Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration. Nandi-Ndaitwah's swearing-in coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibia's independence, but the ceremony was switched from a soccer stadium where thousands were due to attend to the official presidential office because of heavy rain. The new president made her pledge to defend, uphold and support the constitution in front of other visiting leaders from South Africa, Zambia, Congo, Botswana, Angola and Kenya. Nandi-Ndaitwah succeeds Nangolo Mbumba, who had stood in as Namibia's president since February 2024 following the death in office of President Hage Geingob. Nandi-Ndaitwah was promoted to vice president following Geingob's death. Nandi-Ndaitwah is just the fifth president of Namibia, a sparsely populated nation in southwestern Africa which was a German colony until the end of World War I and then won independence from South Africa in 1990 after decades of struggle and a guerilla war against South African forces that lasted more than 20 years. '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,' Nandi-Ndaitwah said. Nandi-Ndaitwah is a veteran of the South West Africa People's Organization, or SWAPO, which led Namibia's fight for independence and has been its ruling party ever since. She was the ninth of 13 children, her father was an Anglican clergyman, and she attended a mission school that she also later taught in. She joined SWAPO as a teenager in the 1960s and spent time in exile in Zambia, Tanzania, the former Soviet Union and the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s. She had been a lawmaker in Namibia since 1990 and was the foreign minister before being appointed vice president. She said she would insist on good governance and high ethical standards in public institutions and would promote closer regional cooperation. She pledged to continue calling for the rights of Palestinians and the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and demanded the lifting of sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. She also said Namibia would continue to contribute to efforts to fight climate change, a persistent threat for an arid country of just three million people that regularly experiences droughts. Nandi-Ndaitwah's husband is a retired general who once commanded Namibia's armed forces and was formally given the title 'first gentleman.' Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration came a day after Namibia's Parliament elected its first female speaker. ___ More AP Africa news:
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is sworn in as Namibia's first female leader
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia's first female president on Friday, reaching the highest office in her land nearly 60 years after she joined the liberation movement fighting for independence from apartheid South Africa. The 72-year-old Nandi-Ndaitwah won an election in November to become one of just a handful of female leaders in Africa after the likes of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi and Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania. Sirleaf and Banda, now former leaders of their countries, and current Tanzania President Hassan all attended Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration. Nandi-Ndaitwah's swearing-in coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibia's independence, but the ceremony was switched from a soccer stadium where thousands were due to attend to the official presidential office because of heavy rain. The new president made her pledge to defend, uphold and support the constitution in front of other visiting leaders from South Africa, Zambia, Congo, Botswana, Angola and Kenya. Nandi-Ndaitwah succeeds Nangolo Mbumba, who had stood in as Namibia's president since February 2024 following the death in office of President Hage Geingob. Nandi-Ndaitwah was promoted to vice president following Geingob's death. Nandi-Ndaitwah is just the fifth president of Namibia, a sparsely populated nation in southwestern Africa which was a German colony until the end of World War I and then won independence from South Africa in 1990 after decades of struggle and a guerilla war against South African forces that lasted more than 20 years. '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,' Nandi-Ndaitwah said. Nandi-Ndaitwah is a veteran of the South West Africa People's Organization, or SWAPO, which led Namibia's fight for independence and has been its ruling party ever since. She was the ninth of 13 children, her father was an Anglican clergyman, and she attended a mission school that she also later taught in. She joined SWAPO as a teenager in the 1960s and spent time in exile in Zambia, Tanzania, the former Soviet Union and the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s. She had been a lawmaker in Namibia since 1990 and was the foreign minister before being appointed vice president. She said she would insist on good governance and high ethical standards in public institutions and would promote closer regional cooperation. She pledged to continue calling for the rights of Palestinians and the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and demanded the lifting of sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. She also said Namibia would continue to contribute to efforts to fight climate change, a persistent threat for an arid country of just three million people that regularly experiences droughts. Nandi-Ndaitwah's husband is a retired general who once commanded Namibia's armed forces and was formally given the title 'first gentleman.' Nandi-Ndaitwah's inauguration came a day after Namibia's Parliament elected its first female speaker. ___
Voice of America
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Namibia lays founding president to rest
Thousands of Namibians gathered on the outskirts of the capital Windhoek on Saturday to bid farewell to the country's founding president, Sam Nujoma, who died last month in a private hospital at the age of 95. Heads of state from southern African countries joined Namibians at the funeral for Nujoma, who led the country to independence from apartheid-era South Africa. As early as six o'clock on Saturday morning, Namibians could be seen making their way, some on foot and others in their vehicles, to the National Shrine, the Heroes Acre, on the outskirts of Windhoek. They came pay their final respects to the man who is credited with bringing independence to the southern African country thirty-five years ago. Sam Nujoma died in a Windhoek hospital on February 8th after being hospitalized for three weeks. Namibia's current president, Nangolo Mbumba, described Nujoma as a giant who stood firm in the country's 24-year armed struggle for independence from South Africa. 'Although our hearts are laden with grief, we take solace that President Sam Nujoma will now rest amongst his fellow illustrious heroes and heroines," he said. "[He] has completed his mission with distinction, fulfilling his destiny and leaving behind the most precious gift of freedom and independence for the people of Namibia.' Among the VIPs in attendance Saturday were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and Angola's President João Lourenco. Former presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique could also be seen in the crowds of mourners who came to pay their last respects to the elder statesman. Nujoma was the first leader of Namibia's independence movement, the South West Africa People's Organization, and later served three terms as Namibia's president. Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana is his niece and a former cabinet minister who served as Namibia's Attorney General. She is also vice-chairperson of the Sam Nujoma Foundation. 'Nujoma united the people of Namibia who were divided according to the ethnic languages," she said. "During the war our people were made to fight against each other and at independence he introduced a policy of national reconciliation to forgive one another as brothers and sisters.' Public servant Chrispin Kapalu was also among the mourners who sang and danced as they braved the burning hot Namibian sun to bid farewell to the leader, whose name is captured in revolutionary struggle songs like 'Sema Uulipeni Elula Ee pandela, eelula epandela ola Namibia.' The lyrics mean "Sam Nujoma where are you, raise the flag.' 'Growing up we knew about Nujoma, different interpretations but after independence as young people then we could see the reality why our forefathers have to sacrifice their lives,' said Kapalu.
Zawya
12-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Energy Chamber (AEC) Pays Tribute to Sam Nujoma - Namibia's Founding Father, Energy Champion
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( pays tribute to Dr. Sam Nujoma, former President of the Republic of Namibia, and extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Namibia. Dr. Nujoma was not only the country's first democratically-elected president, but is revered as the country's liberator and 'Founding Father,' having played a central role in fighting for Namibian independence. His loss marks the end of an era for Namibia, but his legacy as a visionary leader and a champion for national development will endure for generations to come. Dr. Nujoma dedicated his life to securing Namibia's freedom and laying the groundwork for its socio-economic growth. From his early years as a leader of the South West Africa People's Organization to his presidency from 1990 to 2005, he guided Namibia through a period of transformation, fostering stability, reconciliation and sustainable development. Under his leadership, the country implemented key policies that promoted economic self-sufficiency, industrialization and infrastructure expansion, ensuring that Namibia remained on a path of long-term prosperity. One of the most significant aspects of Dr. Nujoma's leadership was his commitment to energy security and resource sovereignty. Recognizing the crucial role that energy plays in economic and social development, he laid the foundation for Namibia's modern energy sector. His government prioritized policies that would harness the country's vast natural resources, encouraging both local and international investment in oil, gas and renewable energy projects. Today, as Namibia emerges as a major player in Africa's energy landscape, Dr. Nujoma's contributions remain evident in the sector's growing dynamism and potential. 'Dr. Nujoma laid the foundation for Namibia's energy future with a vision of sustainability, inclusion and shared prosperity. His commitment to unlocking the potential of our natural resources has been instrumental in driving the sector forward. We honor his legacy by continuing to build an energy sector that serves all Namibians and positions our country as a key player on the global stage,' states Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy. A champion for inclusivity, Dr. Nujoma believed that energy development must be mutually beneficial for all Namibians and should drive broader socio-economic progress. His vision extended beyond national borders, emphasizing the need for greater collaboration between Namibia and global partners. This approach has paved the way for partnerships that not only advance Namibia's energy sector but also contribute to Africa's overall energy transformation. Now, a slew of foreign operators is active in Namibia. These include France's TotalEnergies, Britain's Shell, America's Chevron, QatarEnergy, among many others. Independent oil and gas companies such as Galp, Azule Energy, Impact Oil&Gas, Eco Atlantic, ReconAfrica and more are also investing in Namibia, supporting the country's goals to create a sustainable domestic energy market. 'This is a dark period in Namibia but even more for the oil industry. He was a firm believer that Namibia will one day be a top oil producer. The only President to join us in our TAC meetings. Truly a visionary leader. And for that, we are grateful for the gift of his life,' notes Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner of Namibia's Ministry of Mines and Energy. The foundations laid by Dr. Nujoma have played a large part in positioning Namibia's energy market where it is today. The country is on track to become an offshore oil producer by 2029; has emerged as one of the world's most exciting deepwater plays; is considered to be both a competitive and attractive market to invest in; and is strategically positioned to supply the southern African region with low-carbon fuels. Beyond oil and gas, Dr. Nujoma recognized the vital role renewable energy can play in bolstering energy access, driving a just energy transition while unlocking new export revenue for the country. Dr. Nujoma was the author of Vision 2030, a strategic roadmap towards Namibia's industrialization and global competitiveness. The multi-sector roadmap features a strong energy component, striving to address gaps in natural resource knowledge; promote the adoption of integrated political, technical and economic measures; capitalize on Namibia's energy resources; while accelerating diversification through investments in emerging markets. By advocating for equitable resource management, he ensured that energy development in Namibia would serve as a catalyst for employment, innovation and industrial growth. 'Dr. Sam Nujoma was not just a leader; he was a revolutionary who understood that true independence is built on economic and energy security. His contributions to Namibia's energy landscape have created opportunities for generations to come. The AEC honors his legacy and remains committed to advancing the vision he set for Namibia's energy future,' says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. As Namibia continues to make strides in energy development, from oil and gas discoveries to pioneering green hydrogen initiatives, the nation will always remember Dr. Nujoma as the architect of a brighter and more prosperous future. His leadership, vision and unwavering commitment to Namibia's growth will forever be celebrated. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
