Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (born 29 October 1952) is a Namibian politician serving as Namibia's vice president since February 2024.[1] She is the third Vice-President of Namibia. She previously served as the deputy prime minister of Namibia from 2015 to 2024.[2] She is also SWAPO's first female presidential candidate.[3] Nandi-Ndaitwah has also served as Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation since December 2012. From March 2010 to December 2012, she was Minister of Environment and Tourism. She is a member of SWAPO, Namibia's ruling party, and a long-time member of the National Assembly. In 2017, Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected vice-president of SWAPO at the its sixth Congress. She is the first woman to serve in that position.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Nandi-Ndaitwah in 2022 | |
| 3rd Vice President of Namibia | |
| Assumed office 4 February 2024 | |
| President | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Preceded by | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Deputy-Prime Minister of Namibia | |
| In office 21 March 2015 – 4 February 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa |
| Preceded by | Marco Hausiku |
| Succeeded by | John Mutorwa |
| Minister of International Relations and Cooperation | |
| Assumed office 4 December 2012 | |
| Prime Minister |
|
| Preceded by | Utoni Nujoma |
| Minister of Environment and Tourism | |
| In office 21 March 2010 – 4 December 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Nahas Angula |
| Preceded by | Willem Konjore |
| Succeeded by | Uahekua Herunga |
| Minister of Information and Broadcasting | |
| In office 2005–2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Nahas Angula |
| Preceded by | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Succeeded by | Joel Kaapanda |
| Minister of Women Affairs and Child Welfare | |
| In office 2000–2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Hage Geingob |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Marlene Mungunda |
| Director General of Women Affairs | |
| In office 1996–2000 | |
| Prime Minister | Hage Geingob |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 21 March 1990 – 21 March 1996 | |
| Prime Minister | Hage Geingob |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Netumbo Nandi 29 October 1952 Onamutai, South West Africa (now Namibia) |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Spouse | Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah |
| Alma mater | Keele University Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life and education
editNdemupelila Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was born on 29 October 1952 to Justina Nekoto Shaduka-Nandi and Petrus Nandi at Onamutai in northern Namibia,[4] which was previously known as South West Africa.[3] Her father was an Anglican clergyman. She was the ninth of 13 children.[5] Ndaitwah was educated at St. Mary's Mission in Odibo.[6]
Nandi-Ndaitwah went into exile in 1974 and joined SWAPO members in Zambia. She worked at the SWAPO headquarters in Lusaka from 1974 to 1975 and attended a course at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in the Soviet Union from 1975 until 1976. She graduated with a diploma in the work and practice of the communist youth movement. In 1987 she obtained a post-graduate diploma in public administration and management from the Glasgow College of Technology, in the United Kingdom, and in 1988 a further post-graduate diploma, in international relations, from Keele University, also in the UK. In 1989 Nandi-Ndaitwah obtained a master's degree in diplomatic studies, also from Keele University.[7]
Political career
editNandi-Ndaitwah became the SWAPO deputy representative in Zambia from 1976 until 1978 and the chief representative in Zambia from 1978 to 1980. From 1980 until 1986, she was the SWAPO chief representative in East Africa, based at Dar es Salaam. She was a member of the SWAPO central committee from 1976 to 1986 and the Namibian National Women's Organisation (NANAWO) president from 1991 to 1994.[7]
She has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1990. She was deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 1990 to 1996 and first gained ministerial status in 1996 as director-general of Women's Affairs in the Office of the President, where she served until 2000. In 2000 she was promoted to minister and given the Women Affairs and Child Welfare portfolio.[8]
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From 2005 to 2010, she was the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in Namibia's cabinet. She subsequently served as Minister of Environment and Tourism until a major cabinet reshuffle in December 2012, in which she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs,[9] a portfolio since renamed to International Relations and Cooperation.
Under President Hage Geingob, Nandi-Ndaitwah was appointed as Deputy-Prime Minister of Namibia in March 2015, while serving in parallel as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.[10] Nandi-Ndaitwah sits both on SWAPO's central committee and the politburo. She is also the party's secretary for information and mobilisation and as such, is one of SWAPO's main spokespeople.[7]
In March 2023, President Geingob named Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as SWAPO's presidential candidate in 2024 Namibian general election.[11] Following Geingob's death in February 2024, Nandi-Ndaitwah was appointed vice president, succeeding Nangolo Mbumba who became president.[12]
Personal life
editNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is married to Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force.[7] Her interests lie in children's community work and reading.[2]
Awards
editNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was awarded the 'thought leadership' at the Namibia Sustainable Development Awards.[13] Nandi- Ndaitwah was recognized with an Inter-Generational Leadership Award at the 2024 Nala Feminist (Nalafem) Summit.[14] She further holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Nangolo Mbumba sworn in as Namibia's fourth President". The Star Kenya. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Nandi-Ndaitwah Netumbo". Namibian Parliament. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah: Profile". Africa Confidential. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Nandi-Ndaitwah's moment of truth". The Namibian. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Mongudhi, Tileni (21 April 2023). "Nandi-Ndaitwah's moment of truth". The Namibian. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, N". klausdierks.com. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d Hopwood, Graham. "Who's Who, entry for Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah". Namibia Institute for Democracy. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ^ "Nandi-Ndaitwah Netumbo". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ Shipanga, Selma; Immanuel, Shinovene (5 December 2012). "Transition team picked". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Geingob announces Cabinet". The Namibian. 20 March 2015.
- ^ "Namibia: President Geingob Names Nandi-Ndaitwah Woman Successor". The Heritage Times. 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Nangolo Mbumba Sworn In as Namibia's Interim President". Voice of America. 5 February 2024.
- ^ Mukokobi, Pricilla (21 June 2024). "Namibia: VP Recognised for Environmental Contribution". New Era. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "VP Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah receives inter-generational leadership award". nbcnews.na. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Nandi-Ndaitwah awarded honorary doctorate by University of Dar es Salaam". nbcnews.na. Retrieved 23 November 2024.