By Silvia Caravaggio
In the 27-30 November 2024 general elections, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, leader of the SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organisation) party and the only female candidate for the presidency, became the first female President of Namibia. Before this, she had been Vice President of Namibia, following the death of President Geingob in February. This is an important result for women’s political participation in African countries, and it follows different policies and legislation focused on increasing women’s opportunities in politics, such as the SWAPO 50% gender quota.
The 2024 elections and the following results were nonetheless accompanied by criticism and technical difficulties. The elections were supposed to last only for one day, but eventually were extended for three days in some parts of Namibia due to ballot paper shortages. Opposition parties criticised the election and vote vote-counting processes. The Independent Patriots for Change (who obtained 25% of the vote) leader, Panduleni Itula, refuted the results and stated that the elections were rigged. However, the Electoral Commission of Namibia rejected the opposition parties’ request to redo the elections. The Electoral Commission was heavily criticised for the electoral process during election days, with complaints of long waiting hours at the polls, especially in Windhoek. 1.4 million voters were registered (almost half the Namibian population), and around 1 million votes have been cast in this election cycle. Itula noted that thousands of voters had been prevented from voting because only some polling stations allowed for voting extensions. "This election has violated the very tenets of our Electoral Act. Namibians deserve the right to choose their leaders freely and fairly, not through a rigged process,” he said.
Notwithstanding, the SWAPO party won the elections with 53.1% of the vote (51 seats), just enough to pass the 49-seat majority in the National Assembly. SWAPO managed to maintain the majority, but these results follow the declining affection of the electorate, with votes already dropping from 87% to 56% in 2019. Women represent 40.6% of the National Assembly, with 39 women out of 96 members (57 men). In the previous legislature, women members were 44.2% (arriving also to 50% in 2024).
Women's Political Participation
Namibia is placed in the top 10 of (first in Africa) the Global Gender Gap Report, with 80.5% of its gender gap closed, and the country has a remarkable track record in women’s participation in politics, with women represented in Parliament and in the government over the years. Namibia also ranks in the top ten African countries with the highest levels of women's representation in parliaments. The country’s National Assembly, before the elections, had 44.2% of women and the National Council 14.3%. Former President Geingob promoted women’s political participation, and, in the last cabinet, 38% of the ministries and 71% of deputy ministers were women.
Key to achieving these results is the 50% voluntary gender quota adopted by SWAPO in 2013. It was fundamental in increasing women’s representation in the 2014 elections, from 25% to 46%. SWAPO, though, is the only party with voluntary quotas in place. Despite these remarkable results, the women’s presence in the National Council remains low, highlighting the need for continuous efforts to promote women’s political participation in the country. Namibia has a PR electoral system in local government, where one-third of the candidates have to be women.
In these elections, beyond the historical presidential win by Netumbo Nandi-Ndatwah, women's political participation saw a step back, with only 42.3% of the National Assembly members being women, with 39 women out of 96 members. In the previous legislature, women were 44.2% (50% at the end of the legislature). The opposition parties have gained votes in the parliament, so it is important that they all commit to women’s inclusion in their electoral lists and to gender policies in their parties.
The newly elected President Nandi-Ndatwah has been a long-standing figure in the Namibian fight for independence and an important political leader since 1990. At 15, she joined the Namibian liberation movement with the SWAPO-led resistance against South African rule (responsible for apartheid in the country and which has controlled Namibia since the 1910s). She was arrested, and then she fled into exile in Zambia and Tanzania. She, then, was the leader of the SWAPO Youth League and was elected to the National Assembly after Namibia's independence in 1990. In the following years, she became minister of tourism, environment, and foreign affairs under different SWAPO-led governments, and in 2023, former President Geingob endorsed her as the next presidential candidate for the party. Before the elections, she also covered the role of Vice President in 2024, becoming the first woman Vice President of the country. Her Presidency is supported by a female Vice President, Lucia Witbooi, who has been a member of Namibia’s national assembly since 2009.
Women hold 57% of ministerial positions in the current cabinet. They include:
- Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia - Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
- Minister of Finance – Erica Shafudah
- Minister of International Relations and Trade – Selma Ashipala-Musavyi
- Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security – Lucia Iipumbu
- Minister of Health and Social Services – Dr. Esperance Luvindao
- Minister of Environment and Tourism – Indileni Daniel
- Minister of Information and Communication Technology – Emma Theofelus
- Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture – Sanet Steenkamp
- Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare – Dr. Emma Kantema
- Deputy Minister of International Relations and Trade – Jenelly Matundu
- Deputy Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy – Gaudentia Kröhne
- Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare – Linda Bayoli
- Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Eveline Nawases-Taeyele
Legislative and policy reforms on women’s rights
Among the relevant gender equality policies adopted by Namibia over the years, the Namibia Gender Policy (2008-2018) stands out. The policy adopted by the government aimed to increase women’s participation at all levels of decision-making. The policy affirmed the support of the government for the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development (target of female representation from 30% to 50% by 2015). The policy’s strategies focused on increasing the participation of rural women in politics and discouraging cultural practices that perpetuate gender inequality, and on the incentivisation of local leaders and education initiatives. Furthermore, the policy aimed to strengthen the Parliamentary Gender Caucus in order for it to provide training for women entering politics. The implementation of the Gender Policy has seen mixed results, with many important objectives achieved, such as the percentage of women in parliament, but much work is left to be done, especially to eradicate patriarchal societal norms and give adequate funding to women aspiring to be involved in decision-making positions.
On tackling gender inequality issues, equally important for Namibia has been the implementation of the 2019-2024 National Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. The CEDAW report on the National Plan has highlighted the important results achieved, making Namibia 12th in the world in representation of women in parliament. That said, the report also notes that despite this meaningful representation, only 23% of cabinet ministers were women and that other parties, other than SWAPO, have to commit to introducing gender quotas, and also that there should be an electoral law reform.
Challenges to Women's Participation
Despite significant progress, Namibian women continue to face challenges in political participation. Cultural norms and traditional practices often perpetuate gender biases, discouraging women from pursuing leadership roles. Sarah Leigh Elago, who served in Windhoek local government, spoke about the different difficulties young women in Namibia face when entering politics: lack of cooperation among women and youth organisations, persistent traditional cultural norms, and lack of sufficient resources. To address these issues, it is necessary to have effective access to resources, give young women platforms to contribute to policy debates, and include all women, not only the elites, in women’s networking platforms and organisations.
As seen, SWAPO's gender quota has been instrumental in increasing women's representation, but the absence of similar policies in other political parties limits broader progress. The proportional representation electoral system in Namibia has also facilitated women's entry into politics. However, the effectiveness of these measures depends greatly upon widespread adoption of gender quotas in all political parties and movements because of the increasing importance oof pposition parties in the parliament.
Doreen Sioka, the former Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare of Namibia and head of the delegation to CEDAW, confirmed some of the challenges in women’s political representation included in the report on the National Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, such as low representation in regional councils and the need for advocacy to change the electoral law. In regional councils, and especially in rural areas, women tend to vote for male candidates.
Women in Namibia advocating for change
SWAPO founded the SWAPO Women’s Council in 1969 and supported Namibia’s liberation fight. The women in SWAPO actively engaged in combat and organised clinics, kindergartens, and other programs in refugee camps. After Namibia gained independence in 1990, women in SWAPO held positions in government, the National Assembly, and local authorities. With time, the Women's Council in the SWAPO pushed the 50% gender quota agenda within the party and for economic empowerment programs for women.
Important initiatives have been implemented in favour of gender equality and women’s political participation in Namibia outside of politicians’ intervention. One of the most relevant projects carried out in recent years is the African Union Development Agency’s GenderLinks project. The project promoted women’s equal representation and gender mainstreaming in local government through the development of Centres of Excellence (COEs). In this context, 30 community councils from 13 regions became gender champions, and they provided gender-responsive services regarding gender-based violence and economic empowerment of women. The project also allowed over 160 women to be trained with the necessary skills to effectively participate in political activities and potential candidates for political offices. The project pushed the SWAPO government to introduce the voluntary gender quota system.
In terms of organisations advocating for women’s rights in Namibia, particularly relevant is Sister Namibia. Sister Namibia has been active since 1989, and through a variety of initiatives, it is advocating for the empowerment of women in the country. The organisation deals with education, economic and financial development, and healthcare.
Conclusion
The election of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia's first female president is a landmark achievement for the country and for the African continent. Nandi-Ndaitwah was the SWAPO candidate for the presidency, and the party won 53.1% of the votes. SWAPO was followed by the Independent Patriots for Change with 20.2%, the Affirmative Repositioning with 6.61%, and the Popular Democratic Movement with 5.48%. After these elections, women now make up 40.6% of the National Assembly, with 39 women out of 96 members. In the previous legislature, women were 44.2% and 50% in 2024.
This remarkable result is the product of the implementation of favourable gender policies and quotas in the country since its independence, with continuous commitment by the government in improving women’s political participation. At the same time, this does not mean commitments to gender equality and improving women’s participation in decision-making should stop. Continuous efforts are essential to address the challenges that impede women's full participation in politics. Among these challenges are the decreasing number of women members of the National Assembly, challenging cultural norms, improving funding and training for women entering politics, ensuring that all the parties adopt voluntary gender quotas, and an electoral reform to increase women’s political participation. Major challenges that need to be addressed are the lack of resources for women wanting to enter politics and the lack of economic and community opportunities in this sense. By fostering inclusive policies and ensuring access to resources, Namibia can continue to build on its successes and serve as a model for gender equality in political leadership.
Among the most important recent developments in Namibia’s advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality is Emma Theofelus’s motion in Parliament to remove tax on all sanitary products in the country in 2021. The Honourable Emma Theofelus is a lawyer, and she was Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology in the previous government. She is also an activist and advocate for women’s rights and development, and in her Deputy Minister role, she focused on increasing access to the internet and better communication initiatives of the Namibian Government towards the public. Ms Theofelus’s work has been recognised in different forums: she was the 2022 Laureate in the Individual Category of the United Nations Population Award and a board member of the Leadership Council of Africa REACH. Furthermore, she has been recognised as one of the most influential African women by the BBC and the African Leadership Magazine.
The newly elected President faces a stronger opposition and the consequences of the criticism of the electoral results received from the competing parties, sparked by the difficulties electors had in casting their votes in the polling stations. Furthermore, the President presented a political program focused on employment and economic opportunities, and she is preparing to deal with rising unemployment and a housing crisis. The focus on these policies can present important opportunities to advance women’s rights and gender equality in all sectors of Namibian society, especially housing and employment.
Despite the challenges, Namibia has seen great improvement in women’s rights and women’s political participation in the last decade. SWAPO, thanks also to the work of regional and local groups’ initiatives, has adopted a 50/50 voluntary quota system, and female members of the National Assembly and government, such as Emma Theofelus, have advocated for gender equality and introduced policies in this sense. The election of President Nandi-Ndatwah is an important milestone for Namibia and Namibia’s women’s political participation, and it is an important opportunity to advance gender equality policies in this legislature.