Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sworn in as Namibia's first female president

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in on Friday as the first female president of Namibia after winning elections last year.

At a ceremony that coincided with Namibia's 35th anniversary of independence, Nandi-Ndaitwah assumed office. She is a member of Namibia's ruling South West Africa People's Organization party, which has been in power since the country gained independence in 1990.

She joined the party when it was leading the struggle for independence and has since held several senior positions. She entered the National Assembly in 1990 and became a cabinet minister in 2000, leading the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare. She later served as minister of information and broadcasting, minister of environment and tourism, and minister of foreign affairs. In February 2024, she became Namibia's first female vice president.