Namibia welcomed its fifth president on Friday when Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took her oath of office during the country's 35th independence celebrations. Despite rain keeping many people away, she made strong promises to the nation. She plans to fight for economic freedom and wants everyone to have better healthcare, housing, and education regardless of their political views.
Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed the need for better farming to ensure food security. She quoted a former president saying people who cannot feed themselves won't earn respect from others. She aims to push forward plans for economic freedom that benefit all Namibians. The new president highlighted how her party, Swapo, boldly changed the Constitution to require equal numbers of men and women in leadership roles.
She firmly stated she would battle corruption, comparing it to treason based on lessons from Mwalimu Nyerere. Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the foundation built by previous leaders and credited all parts of government for Namibia's progress. She directly addressed female leadership potential and promised to keep education as a top concern, saying the country needs well-trained people to run the economy effectively.
The president declared quality healthcare access must remain available to every citizen no matter their social position. She also committed to building more infrastructure across the country. Nandi-Ndaitwah won the 2024 elections with over 52% of votes. Before becoming president, she served as vice president following President Hage Geingob's death in February 2024. Her earlier roles included deputy prime minister and heading the ministries of international relations, cooperation, and tourism.
Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed the need for better farming to ensure food security. She quoted a former president saying people who cannot feed themselves won't earn respect from others. She aims to push forward plans for economic freedom that benefit all Namibians. The new president highlighted how her party, Swapo, boldly changed the Constitution to require equal numbers of men and women in leadership roles.
She firmly stated she would battle corruption, comparing it to treason based on lessons from Mwalimu Nyerere. Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the foundation built by previous leaders and credited all parts of government for Namibia's progress. She directly addressed female leadership potential and promised to keep education as a top concern, saying the country needs well-trained people to run the economy effectively.
The president declared quality healthcare access must remain available to every citizen no matter their social position. She also committed to building more infrastructure across the country. Nandi-Ndaitwah won the 2024 elections with over 52% of votes. Before becoming president, she served as vice president following President Hage Geingob's death in February 2024. Her earlier roles included deputy prime minister and heading the ministries of international relations, cooperation, and tourism.
