WINDHOEK, Namibia (BG) — Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in Friday as Namibia’s fifth president, becoming the first woman to lead the southern African nation since its independence in 1990.

She took the oath of office at State House in Windhoek before Chief Justice Peter Shivute, officially succeeding President Nangolo Mbumba, who served as interim leader following the death of President Hage Geingob in 2024.

“I was not elected because I am a woman, but on merit. That is to say, as women, we should not ask to be elected to positions of responsibility because we are women, but because we are capable members of our societies to hold those positions,” she said.

A veteran politician and former Deputy Prime Minister, Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is expected to serve a five-year term.

“Today we are gathered here as Namibians joined by the international community to witness the change of administration,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said. “I therefore stand before you today with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility.”

In her address, the new president paid tribute to generations of Namibians who fought for the country’s political and economic freedom, including founding President Sam Nujoma, who died in February 2025 and was laid to rest three weeks ago.

Nandi-Ndaitwah made a point to recognize African women leaders in the audience, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

“My ascendance to the highest office in the land is the acclimation of years of struggle by generations of Namibian men and women for the political, social, and economic liberation of our motherland,” she said.

Her inauguration marks a historic milestone for gender representation in Namibia and across the African continent.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presidency is expected to set the tone for advancing policies that prioritize unity, economic development, and representation for all Namibians.