Namibians has made history with the election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the country’s first female president.
The country’s election commission said Mrs Nandi-Ndaitwah secured a landslide victory with over 57% of the vote, extending the ruling SWAPO party’s 34-year leadership since independence in 1990.
The development marks a great milestone and a significant achievement for gender representation in leadership the south African nation.
Reports say most of the opposition parties boycotted the results announcement on Tuesday evening in the capital, Windhoek.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is a seasoned politician who has been in public service since Namibia’s independence movement in the 1970s.
She previously served as vice president and foreign minister, bringing a wealth of experience to her new role.
Her closest contender, Panduleni Itula, received 25.5% of the vote which make him second in the disputed election.
The election wasn’t without its challenges, including logistical issues and ballot shortages, which led to a three-day voting extension in some areas.
Despite concerns raised by opposition parties, Nandi-Ndaitwah’s win is widely seen as a major step forward for women in leadership.
As president-elect, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that the Namibian people had voted for “peace and stability”.
Her party, SWAPO, maintained its majority in the National Assembly, winning 51 out of 96 elected seats.