Namibia's ruling party on edge as country holds presidential polls
The small southern African nation of Namibia goes to the polls on Wednesday for presidential and legislative elections. The ruling Swapo party is facing its tightest race since the country became independent in 1990.
The South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) led Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 and has been the dominant party since, although it did lose ground at the last elections in 2019.
The incumbent president, 83-year-old Nangolo Mbumba, came to power in February following the death of his predecessor, Hage Geingob at the age of 82.
The Swapo presidential candidate in Wednesday's elections is Mbumba's vice president, 72-year-old Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – known as NNN.
A political veteran with a high chance of becoming the country's first female president, NNN has been a member of the national assembly since 1990 and a minister since 2000.
Among her promises is the creation of jobs "by attracting investments using economic diplomacy".
Five candidates
NNN is up against four other cadidates, including former Swapo member Panduleni Itula.
The 67-year-old lawyer and founder of the Independent Patriots for Change party got 29.4 percent of votes in the last elections in 2019, losing to Geingob who won with 56 percent.
The third candidate is McHenry Venaani – leader of Namibia's largest opposition party in parliament, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), which holds 16 out of 96 elected seats.
Venaani came a distant third in the 2019 presidential race with only 5 percent of votes.
A former member of Swapo, Swartbooi won 3 percent of votes in the 2019 presidential election.
(with newswires)
Read more on RFI English
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