Namibia’s elections witness high voter turnout amid significant challenges, as Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, potentially the first female president, competes against Panduleni Itula of the IPC party. Long queues form in Windhoek, with citizens prepared for the heat. With rising unemployment and inequality, particularly affecting the youth, there are calls for change. This election could lead to a second round, marking a shift in Namibia’s political landscape after three decades of Swapo governance, amid growing discontent among younger voters.
Namibia’s Pivotal Elections Begin
On Wednesday, Namibians cast their votes in one of the most unpredictable elections to date for the ruling Swapo party. The party’s candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, stands poised to potentially become the nation’s first female president, facing the possibility of an unprecedented second round in the elections.
Commonly referred to as ‘NNN’, the 72-year-old Swapo leader, who is also a prominent figure from the liberation struggle, was among the first to vote at the Emma Hoogenhout school polling station in Windhoek, the capital city.
“By voting, you ensure that your voice is heard and that it influences your life for the next five years,” emphasized the current vice president. She encouraged citizens to participate actively in the election process.
Voter Enthusiasm Amid Challenges
Namibians answered her call enthusiastically, with scenes in Windhoek reflecting a high voter turnout. Long queues formed outside polling stations, where voters came prepared with folding chairs and umbrellas to shield themselves from the intense midday heat, as temperatures soared to 33 degrees Celsius.
The blue ballot boxes designated for the presidential election and the yellow ones for legislative elections must be filled by 9:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT), according to the electoral commission, which oversees the voting process for the 1.5 million registered voters. Vote counting is expected to conclude by Saturday at the latest.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is contending against former dentist and lawyer Panduleni Itula, 67, who started the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party in 2020. After casting his vote in the Katutura township, Itula expressed confidence in his party’s chances, recalling his previous election performance where he garnered 29.4% of the votes without party support.
As Namibia grapples with significant unemployment, persistent inequalities, and demands for generational change, Swapo’s support seems to be waning in this arid region, known as a major uranium supplier globally.
Twenty-four-year-old Sophia Varela, who documented her first voting experience with a photo of her ink-stained thumb, shared her hopes for change and better job opportunities for the youth, who represent over 60% of the country’s population.
“But if it doesn’t happen this time, it’s not the end of the world,” she reflected, reminding herself that other elections will come.
In the early morning light, Frieda Fillipus, a 31-year-old mining industry worker, expressed her desire for a “woman president,” stating, “The feminine represents the future.”
This election marks a significant change in how presidential elections are approached in Namibia, with the possibility of a second round seen as a “realistic option” for the first time, according to Henning Melber, a researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute.
As outlined by electoral law, if a second round is necessary, it must occur within 60 days after the final results are announced.
After three decades of governance by Swapo, a Marxist-influenced party that played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence, Namibia is currently ranked as the second most unequal country in the world, following South Africa, according to the World Bank.
Independent analyst Marisa Lourenço pointed out that while mining activities are abundant, they do not translate into substantial job opportunities, which has led to widespread frustration among the youth. In 2018, 46% of young people aged 18-34 were unemployed, highlighting the pressing economic challenges facing the country.
The South West Africa People’s Organization (Swapo) may find itself at a crossroads, fearing a fate similar to other liberation parties in the region amid a wave of discontent. Recent electoral setbacks for the ANC in South Africa and the BDP in Botswana signal a significant shift, as these parties lose appeal among the younger generation known as ‘born frees’, who have not experienced liberation firsthand but are acutely feeling the effects of the ongoing economic crisis.