Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Tucked into the southwestern corner of Africa, Namibia stands as a quiet leader a country choosing to build from within after a century defined by colonial handovers and apartheid rule.
In 2025, that vision sharpened when Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected Namibia’s first female president.
Since gaining independence in 1990, Namibia has been led by liberation. The ruling SWAPO party, born from resistance and shaped by the fight for freedom, has remained at the country’s helm. And Netumbo’s victory, while accompanied by legal challenges and post-election tension, was far from unexpected.
“My election is not only a victory for me, but for every Namibian woman,” she said shortly after her win. “It proves that our democracy is growing, and that real transitions are possible.”
With youth labor underutilization estimated at over 60% including unemployed and discouraged young workers, persistent inequality, and an unpredictable global market, Netumbo and her administration are stepping into office not with ease but with urgency and a mandate shaped as much by generational frustration as by economic reality.
The pressures are mounting. However, Netumbo isn’t new to the political tarmac. A veteran of Namibia’s liberation movement and one of the first women to join SWAPO in exile.
She’s served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, and a trusted figure under former President Hage Geingob. Her record reflects a steady rise from liberation to governance, exile to executive power.
Opening Moves: A Presidency of Purpose
Embracing their bold approach, the incumbent party left no time to waste. On February 20th, a mere month before her inauguration, President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s administration launched a plan to address the youth employment gap by transforming state-run Vocational Training Centres into full-fledged Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
This initiative aims to equip Namibian youth with practical skills aligned with labor market demands, addressing the country’s significant youth unemployment rate of 38.03% as of 2023.
“We must be agile and responsive in developing an efficient, effective, and sustainable TVET system, aligned with the current and future skills needs of the labor market,” said Higher Education Minister Itah Kandjii-Murangi.
A 2024 study revealed that Namibia could only meet 45% of the skills demanded by its burgeoning oil and gas industry. To keep pace with macroeconomic growth, the country must close this civilian skills gap.
Stability on the Surface
Namibia has kept the lights on and the democracy running, but it is overdue for a rewiring.
For decades, its political power has rested in the hands of SWAPO, the liberation movement turned ruling party.
While the economy has remained relatively stable, especially compared to regional neighbors, the foundations are fragile: high unemployment, concentrated wealth, and an overreliance on raw resource exports.
Namibia boasts one of the most stable economies in the region. As of February 2025, the inflation rate was 3.6%, which is expected to hold steady throughout the year.
Under SWAPO’s leadership, a blend of technocratic governance and long-term planning has fostered a macroeconomic system that citizens and investors can rely on. Through careful fiscal management, Namibia has maintained predictability in a world increasingly shaped by market volatility and climate uncertainty.
Beneath the Surface: Inequality and Infrastructure
However lovely Namibia looks from the outside, its image does not accurately reflect its reality. Beyond youth unemployment, Namibia remains one of the most unequal societies in the world.
“The wealthiest 10 percent of the population hold more than half of the country’s total income,” according to the World Bank Overview of Namibia.
The disparities show up in daily life for thousands of Namibians. In Windhoek, the country’s largest city, approximately 34% of residents live in informal settlements, up from 27% in 2011.
These areas often lack essential services like sanitation, electricity, and clean water. Across the country, infrastructure gaps from unpaved roads to underfunded schools reinforce inequality, making access to opportunity highly dependent on geography.
A Plan to Rewire the System
“We cannot afford business as usual. Our economic strategies must be bold, inclusive, and sustainable,” President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah proclaimed during her inauguration. Compared to her predecessors, she appears the most willing to rewire a system still shaped by colonial legacy one that has delivered macroeconomic stability but left much of the population behind.
The Economic Agenda:
– Prioritizing economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment, diversify the economy, and create sustainable jobs
– Advancing land reform to address deep-seated inequalities
– Leveraging offshore oil and gas discoveries to double GDP growth to 8% within a decade
– Strengthening global partnerships, including a new Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank for FY25–FY29
– Launching a strategy to connect influential global women leaders with Namibian women for mentorship and investment
Netumbo and her incumbent party have made it clear that a significant share of their efforts will be dedicated to eradicating poverty.
To help carry out this vision, she appointed Lucia Witbooi as Vice President, entrusting her with leading efforts to uplift the country’s most vulnerable.
“The functions of marginalized and disability affairs will be placed in the Office of the Vice President to get the attention they need,” Netumbo stated. As the only country in the world led by both a woman president and vice president, Namibia isn’t just shifting the political landscape it’s positioning itself at the forefront of transformative leadership on the global stage.
Youth at the Heart of the Shift
“The youth are the future of our country. We should continue to educate them and equip them with relevant technical skills, knowledge, cultural norms, and values so they can play an active role in the socio-economic development of our country.”
Sam Nujoma
Change is often driven by the young. With nearly 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population under 30, Namibia exemplifies this youthful demographic. The nation’s path toward a more responsive and forward-looking leadership is increasingly shaped by its younger generation.
Grassroots movements and social media campaigns like #ShutItAllDown have been instrumental in shaping public discourse and influencing policy. Namibia, a nation that actively protects freedom of speech, has 22 registered political parties. While SWAPO has long maintained its grip on power, it would be shortsighted to overlook the efforts of other parties striving to better the country.
In 2020, protests against gender-based violence galvanized a generation. By June 2024, Namibia’s High Court ruled to decriminalize same-sex relationships a landmark decision in a country still navigating deeply rooted conservative norms.
These events are part of a broader pattern of young Namibians stepping into influential roles, not just as voters but as voices the system cannot ignore.
“Young Namibians should not only get involved because it is about them but because it is them,” said Emma Theofelus, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology
Looking Ahead
Namibia is still a young country, but one enriched by its legacy. Its movements, from the liberation struggle to today’s youth-led protests, reflect a deep commitment to democracy and progress. President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah has big shoes to fill, but with a loyal cabinet, an invigorated youth, and the international community on her side, it might be time to start looking at Namibia not just as a quiet force but as a leader.
If the last few years are any indication, Namibia’s next chapter will be shaped by a growing partnership between government and people, committed to building a future that works for all.
