At 72, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made history by becoming Namibia’s first female president, marking a turning point in the country.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, nicknamed NNN, made history by becoming Namibia’s first female president. Born in 1952 in the village of Onamutai, she grew up in a difficult time under South African occupation. At the age of 14, she joined the Swapo liberation movement, which fought against apartheid. A passionate activist, she quickly became a key figure in the movement, and her commitment led her into exile.
After years of activism in Zambia, Tanzania, and the UK, where she earned a degree in international relations, she returned to Namibia in 1988, just before the country’s independence. She held various ministerial positions, including in foreign affairs, tourism, and women’s rights, a cause she strongly championed.
In 2024, after serving as vice president, she became Namibia’s president, promising to transform the country’s economy. She is a pragmatic leader, advocating for concrete actions. Married and a mother of three, she is a role model for perseverance and commitment, proving that politics can change lives.
