Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has taken an early lead in the presidential and parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results released a week after the polls.
Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, SWAPO’s presidential candidate, currently leads with 54.82% of the vote, based on 65.57% of ballots counted. If successful, she will become Namibia’s first female president.
The party also leads the parliamentary race with 56.38% of votes tallied so far, reinforcing its dominance in Namibian politics since the country gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.
Election Delays and Technical Challenges
Voting was initially scheduled for Nov. 27 but extended to Nov. 29 and 30 at some polling stations due to ballot paper shortages and technical glitches that left voters unable to cast their votes on election day.
Despite the delays, the electoral commission has yet to announce a timeline for the final results.
Opposition Trails
Opposition candidate Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change trails with 28.09% in the presidential race and 19.23% in parliamentary votes.
Namibia’s electoral process requires a candidate to secure over 50% of votes to win the presidency outright. Should no candidate meet this threshold, a runoff will be held.
The elections mark a critical moment in Namibia’s political landscape as SWAPO seeks to retain its stronghold amidst growing opposition challenges.
