Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party maintained its lead in both the presidential and parliamentary elections as vote counting continued on Tuesday, a week after the polls closed.
The elections, initially held on November 27, were extended through November 29 and 30 due to technical issues and ballot paper shortages that prevented some voters from casting their ballots on time.
SWAPO, which has governed Namibia since the country gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, fielded its Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, as its presidential candidate. If she secures victory, Nandi-Ndaitwah would make history as Namibia’s first female president.
By 0636 GMT, with 65.57% of votes counted, Nandi-Ndaitwah was leading the presidential race with 54.82% of the vote. To avoid a run-off, a candidate must surpass the 50% threshold.
In the parliamentary race, SWAPO was also ahead, claiming 56.38% of the votes tallied so far. The main opposition candidate, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change, trailed with 28.09% of the presidential vote and 19.23% in the National Assembly election.
While the timeline for final results remains unclear, the ruling party’s strong performance signals its continued dominance in Namibian politics despite logistical challenges during the election.
