NETUMBO Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the governing South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo), has been voted in as Namibia's first female president after last week's disputed election.

The electoral commission said she had won more than 57 percent of vote, with her closest rival Panduleni Itula, getting 26 percent.

Following logistical problems and a three-day extension to polling in some parts of the country, Itula said the electoral process was "deeply flawed".

His Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party said it would challenge the results in court.

Most opposition parties boycotted the results announcement on Tuesday evening in the capital, Windhoek, the Namibian newspaper reports.

Windhoek is reported to be calm on Wednesday, with neither celebrations nor protests and people carrying on with their normal lives.

After the announcement of her victory, Nandi Ndaitwah said: "The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability."

Swapo has been in power in the large but sparsely populated southern African country since independence in 1990.

A party stalwart, Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is currently the vice-president, is a trusted leader having served in high government office for a quarter of a century.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his congratulations to Nandi-Ndaitwah on X on Wednesday.

"Your election as fifth President of the Republic and the first woman in our region to hold this high office is a testament to democracy and its ability to transform our societies," his statement read.

Once sworn in, she will join an exclusive club as at the moment Tanzania's Samia Suluhu Hassan is Africa's only female president.

In the parliamentary elections held at the same time, Swapo narrowly held on to its majority, winning 51 of the 96 elected seats - a loss of 12. The IPC won 20 seats, and will be the official opposition.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan congratulated President-elect, 

Nandi-Ndaitwah for emerging victorious.

President Samia posted on her X handle that Tanzania is looking forward to work with her to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral relationship.

“On behalf of the Government and the People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President-elect of the Republic of Namibia, on your historic victory in the 2024 Namibian general election,” reads part of her message on X.

“I am looking forward to working with you in strengthening the all-weather fraternal bonds and historical ties between Tanzania and Namibia.”

The President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the governing South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), had been voted in as Namibia’s first female president after last week’s election.

The electoral commission said she had won more than 57 per cent of vote, with her closest rival Panduleni Itula, getting 26 per cent.

After the announcement of her victory, Nandi Ndaitwah said: “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability.”

Swapo has been in power in the large but sparsely populated southern African country since independence in 1990.

A party stalwart, Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is currently the vice-president, is a trusted leader having served in high government office for a quarter of a century.

Once sworn in, Nandi-Ndaitwah will become the second female President in Africa joining the only current female President in the continent, Dr Samia.

In the parliamentary elections held at the same time, Swapo held on to its majority, winning 51 of the 96 elected seats – a loss of 12. The IPC won 20 seats and will be the official opposition.