Namibia has made history by electing its first female president, 72-year-old Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in a tightly contested election that has sparked controversy and opposition rejection.
The ruling SWAPO party, which has governed the mineral-rich nation since independence in 1990, declared victory last week, with Nandi-Ndaitwah securing 57 percent of the vote.
Her closest rival, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), garnered 25.5 percent, according to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).
Despite her historic win, the election has been fraught with allegations of irregularities and logistical challenges.
The November 27 polls were marred by technical failures, including malfunctioning electronic voter registration devices and a shortage of ballot papers.
These issues forced voting to be extended twice, with some citizens queuing for up to 12 hours before abandoning the process in frustration.
“There were a multitude of…