Namibia has elected Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the country’s first female president following a disputed election.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, secured over 57 percent of the vote, according to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).
She will become the first woman to lead Namibia since its independence in 1990, under the governance of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO).
Panduleni Itula, the candidate for the opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), came second with 25.5 percent of the votes.
However, the election process has been marred by controversy. The voting period was extended twice due to logistical issues, including a shortage of ballot papers and long queues, with some voters waiting for up to 12 hours.
The IPC has criticized the election, claiming that the extensions were a deliberate effort to discourage voters.
The opposition party has vowed not to accept the results, alleging that the delays were intended to frustrate the electorate.
Itula said there was a “multitude of irregularities”, adding that “the IPC shall not recognise the outcome of that election”.
He added that the IPC would “fight to nullify the elections through the processes that are established within our electoral process”.
An organisation of southern African human rights lawyers serving as election monitors said the delays at polling units were intentional and widespread.
The electoral authority admitted to failures in the conduct of the election, including a shortage of ballot papers and the overheating of electronic tablets used to register voters.
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