Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo), has been elected as Namibia's first female president, following a contentious election process. According to the electoral commission, Nandi-Ndaitwah secured more than 57% of the votes, while her closest competitor, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnered 26%.

However, the election has been marred by logistical challenges, including a three-day extension to polling in some regions. Itula's party has rejected the results, alleging electoral malpractice. "We will pursue justice through the courts," the IPC declared, urging individuals who felt disenfranchised due to electoral mismanagement to report their grievances to the police.

The announcement of the results on Tuesday evening in Windhoek, the capital, was boycotted by most opposition parties. Despite the controversies, Nandi-Ndaitwah struck an optimistic tone, stating, "The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability," according to Reuters.

Swapo, which has governed Namibia since its independence in 1990, faced significant challenges in this election. Speculation had grown that the party might follow the fate of other liberation movements in the region, such as South Africa's African National Congress, which lost its outright parliamentary majority in May and Botswana's Democratic Party, ousted after nearly six decades in power in October.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, a seasoned leader and Swapo stalwart, has served in high government positions for over 25 years. Currently serving as vice president, she is regarded as a trusted figure within the party. Once sworn in, she will join Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan as one of only two female presidents in Africa.

Panduleni Itula, a trained dentist and charismatic leader, had previously dented Swapo’s dominance in the 2019 presidential election, reducing its vote share to 56% from 87% five years earlier. Despite this year's setback, the IPC remains determined to challenge the election results.

Swapo, which led Namibia’s liberation struggle against apartheid South Africa, retains its grip on power in the sparsely populated southern African nation. Yet the election has revealed growing cracks in its popularity, signalling potential challenges ahead for the party.