Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been elected as Namibia’s first female president and will be the country’s leader according to results released by the country’s electoral commission.
The 72-year-old won with 57% vote share, according to official results declared on Tuesday by the electoral commission, defying predictions that she might be forced into a run-off.
“The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said after being declared president-elect.
Her win cements her governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party’s 34-year hold on power since independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 – a contested outcome.
Opposition parties have rejected the results after the election was marred by technical glitches, including shortages of ballot papers and other issues, causing election officials to extend voting until Saturday. Long queues meant that some voters gave up voting on the first day after waiting for up to 12 hours.
The opposition parties say the extension was illegal and plan to challenge the results in court.