Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, received with 57 p.c of the vote, flouting predictions that she is perhaps pressured right into a run-off.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been elected Namibia’s president and would be the nation’s first feminine chief, outcomes launched by the nation’s electoral fee present.
The 72-year-old received with 57 p.c of the vote, in keeping with official outcomes declared on Tuesday by the electoral fee, flouting predictions that she is perhaps pressured right into a run-off.
“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Nandi-Ndaitwah mentioned after being declared president-elect.
Her win cements her governing South West Africa Folks’s Organisation (SWAPO) celebration’s 34-year maintain on energy since independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 – a contested end result.
Opposition events have rejected the outcomes after the election was marred by technical problems, together with shortages of poll papers and different points, inflicting election officers to increase voting till Saturday. Lengthy queues meant that some voters gave up on the primary day of voting after ready for as much as 12 hours.
The opposition events say the extension was unlawful and have pledged to problem the ends in court docket.
The candidate for the principle opposition Unbiased Patriots for Change (IPC), Panduleni Itula, trailed Nandi-Ndaitwah with 25.5 p.c of the vote, in keeping with the fee.
“The rule of regulation has been grossly violated and we can’t name these elections by any means or measure as free, honest and bonafide,” Itula mentioned on Saturday.
Nandi-Ndaitwah was promoted to vice chairman in February after President Hage Geingob died whereas in workplace.
Whereas in energy for many years, SWAPO has disenchanted younger voters as a consequence of excessive youth unemployment charges and enduring inequalities.
She bought her begin in politics by collaborating within the nation’s underground independence motion within the Nineteen Seventies. She returned from the UK to affix parliament in 1990 and went on to function minister with a number of portfolios over time.
