The outgoing leader Mbumba hands out power in Nandi-Nndaitwah during a ceremony coinciding with the country’s 35th day of independence.
Netumbo Nandi-Nndaitwah Oath as the first woman president of Namibia, after winning the elections last year who extended the 35 -year grip of the ruling party.
Nandi-Nandaitwah, 72, became one of the few women leaders on the African continent, following a ceremony on Friday at which heads of state of several African countries, including Angola, South Africa and Tanzania, attended.
Outgoing president Nangolo Mbumba, 83, presented power to Nandi-Nndaitwah during a ceremony that coincided with the 35th anniversary of the independence of Namibia and was transferred from the stadium of independence to the State House due to rare rainy rains.
Strong applause and ulalings broke out while NNN, because Nandi-Nndaitwah is popularly known, has been sworn in.
In his inaugural speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah Recognized his historic elections, but also said that the Namibians elected her for his competence and merit.
She added that even if the country has seen progress since independence, “there is a lot to do.”
Previously, in the post of vice-president for a year, she is a veteran of the popular organization of South Africa (Swapo) who led the country not very populated and rich in uranium to the independence of apartheid in South Africa in 1990.
Nandi-Nndaitwah obtained 58% of the votes in the chaotic elections of November, which were extended several times after logistical failures led to major delays.
Namibia attends one of its “most important daughters that allowed the glass ceiling,” said outgoing chief Mbumba. “It has been to come for a long time.”
The young independent opposition Patriots for Change (IPC) set up a strong challenge in last year’s elections, but only took 25.5% of presidential voteStressing the continuous loyalty to Swapo, even if the popularity of other liberation parties in southern Africa has decreased.
A key problem in the ballot box was generalized unemployment among young populations, with 44% of 18 to 34 years without work in 2023 in a country of only three million people.
On the eve of its inauguration, Nandi-Nndaitwah said that the fight against unemployment was a priority.
“Over the next five years, we have to produce at least 500,000 jobs,” she told South African national broadcaster, SABC, adding that this would require an investment of Namibian dollars ($ 4.67 billion).
The key sectors of job creation are agriculture, fishing and creative and sporting industries, she said.
She called for unity after political divisions surfaced during the elections, which the IPC sought to cancel in a failed legal action.
“We can do our policy during the campaign and so on, but once it’s over, we have to build Namibia together,” she said.