Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has officially been sworn in as Namibia's first female president during a ceremony held in conjunction with the country’s 35th independence day. The outgoing leader, Mbumba, transferred power to Nandi-Ndaitwah, marking a significant milestone in the nation's history.

At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah joins the ranks of few women leaders across Africa, following a ceremony on Friday that was attended by heads of state from several African nations, including Angola, South Africa, and Tanzania. Originally planned for the Independence Stadium, the event was moved to State House due to unusually heavy rain.

Cheers and applause erupted as Nandi-Ndaitwah, affectionately known as NNN, took her oath of office. In her inaugural speech, she recognized the historic nature of her election but emphasized that Namibians elected her based on competence and merit. She acknowledged the progress made since independence but stressed that "there’s a lot that needs to be done."

Having served as vice president for the past year, Nandi-Ndaitwah is a veteran member of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), which led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. She secured 58 percent of the vote in the tumultuous November elections, which experienced delays due to logistical failures.

Outgoing leader Mbumba noted this moment as a significant breakthrough for Namibia, stating, “It has been a long time coming.”