Ndemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, universally known as Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah or “NNN,” is the fifth and current President of Namibia, a position she assumed on March 21, 2025. Her ascension marks a historic moment as she is the first woman to lead the Southern African nation.
Born on October 29, 1952, in Onamutai, South West Africa (now Namibia), Nandi-Ndaitwah’s early life was deeply shaped by the struggle against South African apartheid rule. The ninth of 13 children, she received her early education at St. Mary’s Mission in Odibo. Her political activism began when she joined the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) at the age of 14 in 1966. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a leader in SWAPO’s Youth Movement and actively campaigning against the apartheid regime, which led to her arrest and imprisonment in 1973.
Forced into exile in 1973, Nandi-Ndaitwah continued her work for liberation of her homeland. She worked at SWAPO headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia, from 1973 to 1975 before furthering her education in the Soviet Union at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School. She later pursued advanced studies in the United Kingdom, earning a postgraduate diploma in public administration and management from Glasgow College of Technology (1987), a postgraduate diploma in international relations (1988), and a Master’s degree in diplomatic studies (1989) from Keele University. During her time in exile, she served as SWAPO’s deputy and later chief representative in Zambia, and as chief representative for East Africa, based in Dar es Salaam.
Her personal life intertwined with the liberation struggle. In 1983, she married Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, a prominent leader in the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), SWAPO’s armed wing, who later served as the Chief of the Namibian Defence Force. Together, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah have three sons.
Upon Namibia’s independence on March 21, 1990, Nandi-Ndaitwah returned home and immediately became a member of the National Assembly, a position she held continuously until 2024. Her distinguished political career in independent Namibia includes a long list of ministerial portfolios: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990–1996), Director-General of Women’s Affairs (1996–2000), Minister of Women Affairs and Child Welfare (2000–2005), Minister of Information and Broadcasting (2005–2010), Minister of Environment and Tourism (2010–2012), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012–2015), and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (2015–2024). She also served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2015 to 2024.
A strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality, Nandi-Ndaitwah played a key role in the enactment of crucial gender-responsive laws in Namibia. In 2017, she made history as the first woman to be elected Vice President of the SWAPO Party, a position she retained in 2022, effectively positioning her as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 general election. Her victory in November 2024, followed by her inauguration in March 2025, marks the culmination of decades of dedicated service and sacrifice
