Ester Mbathera
President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she is widening the door for women to follow in her footsteps.
She said she was not elected into the country’s highest office because she is a woman.
“I am elected as a Namibian citizen with the quality and capability to lead this nation,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks at her first media conference on Thursday in Windhoek after winning the presidential race early this week.
According to her, her ascendance to the highest office affirms that equal responsibility for women and men in society is a reality.
“As women activists, we don’t want to be wheelbarrowed. We must prove ourselves, and we have been proving it, and that is why the number of women and the level of leadership is increasing in this country,” she said.
She called on women not to relax because the country will be led by a woman.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the election has provided the Swapo party and president-elect with constitutional and moral legitimacy to govern.
This is despite calls to nullify the election by opposition parties and election observers.
“As we stand now, constitutionally and morally, we are legitimate to make sure that come 21 March 2025, when finally in the presence of all Namibians hoping the ceremony will be alive (broadcast), I will take an oath of that office,” she said.
According to her, Swapo emerged as the single largest political party with an overwhelming majority in the elections.
“This is a powerful testimony to the national character of the Swapo party as a vanguard for nation-building and socio-economic advancement,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said that all civil servants under her leadership will have to deliver on the Swapo manifesto irrespective of their political affiliation.
“Those who are going to work in the public service regardless of your political affiliation when we were flagging the Swapo election manifesto—that is the key we got from the Namibian people. If you do something else different, in international relations, we have learnt that you should not serve a government if you don’t want to serve it. You should move out,” she said.
Swapo’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa announced that the party will host its victory party on Saturday at the Sam Nuyoma Stadium in Windhoek.
She stated that all regions will host similar events.
