Namibia commenced voting on Wednesday as citizens anticipate potential shifts in leadership and governance.
Approximately 1.4 million registered voters, representing nearly half of the nation’s population, will cast their ballots to elect a new president and Parliament for a five-year term.
The presidential race features 15 candidates, including Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the current vice president and the ruling SWAPO party’s nominee. Nandi-Ndaitwah has taken an early lead, bolstered by results from early voting by Namibians overseas and members of the armed forces earlier this month.
SWAPO, which has held power since Namibia’s independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, faces growing discontent over unemployment and economic challenges, particularly among young voters.
Another key contender is Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and SWAPO’s main rival in the last election, now representing the Independent Patriots for Change party. A runoff election will occur if no candidate secures over 50% of the votes, a scenario unprecedented in Namibian history.
Polling stations close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT), with results expected by the weekend.
Namibia, a sparsely populated nation of just over 3 million, spans deserts like the Kalahari and the Namib, making it one of the driest countries in southern Africa and vulnerable to climate shocks. This year’s El Niño-driven drought led authorities to cull hundreds of wild animals to provide food for those in need.
SWAPO’s long tenure mirrors trends across southern Africa, where ruling parties face rising discontent. In recent months, Botswana’s ruling party suffered a historic defeat after 58 years in power, while Mauritius’s incumbent government also lost heavily. Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo party, however, declared victory in October amidst allegations of vote rigging and ensuing protests.
This election also sees issues affecting women—such as reproductive rights, equal pay, and healthcare—taking prominence. Namibia’s history as a former German colony under South African rule until independence shapes its political and cultural backdrop.
The death of President Hage Geingob in February thrust Vice President Nangolo Mbumba into the interim presidency, further heightening the stakes of this pivotal election.
