Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, became one of the few women leaders on the African continent, following a ceremony on Friday attended by heads of state from several African countries including Angola, South Africa and Tanzania.
Outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba, 83, handed power to Nandi-Ndaitwah at a ceremony that coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibia’s independence and was moved from the Independence Stadium to State House because of rare heavy rains.
Loud applause and ululations erupted as NNN, as Nandi-Ndaitwah is popularly known, took her oath of office.
In her inaugural speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged her historic election, but also said that Namibians elected her for her competence and merit.
She added that while the country has seen progress since independence, “there’s a lot that needs to be done.”
Previously in the post of vice president for a year, she is a veteran of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) that led the sparsely populated and uranium-rich country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 58 percent of the vote in the chaotic November elections, which were extended several times after logistical failures led to major delays.
Namibia is witnessing one of its “foremost daughters breaking through the glass ceiling”, outgoing leader Mbumba said. “It has been a long time coming.”
She appealed for unity after political divisions surfaced during the elections, which the IPC sought to annul in a failed court action.
“We can make our politics during the campaign and so on but once it’s over, we must build Namibia together,” she said.
Source: aljazeera.com
