Across southern Africa, political parties that have led their countries since the end of colonialism have ceded power to the opposition in recent months. Namibia bucked the trend.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah won with 57% of the vote, according to official results, defying predictions that she might be forced into a runoff.

Namibia's ruling SWAPO party was declared winner Tuesday of last week's disputed elections, ushering in the southern African country's first woman president after a disputed vote that the main opposition has already said it does not recognise.

The candidate from Namibia's ruling party SWAPO was on course to win the presidency following last week's election, electoral commission results from close to 92% of constituencies showed on Tuesday.

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% of the votes cast, with her closest rival Panduleni Itula getting 26%.

Namibia's election commission says Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the ruling SWAPO party won 57% of the vote, negating the need for a runoff. The largest opposition party says it will challenge the results in court.

A woman who joined Namibia’s independence movement in the 1970s is a strong contender to become its first female leader as the country votes in a presidential election.

Namibia's Vice President and SWAPO presidential candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah gestures after casting her vote in the elections in Windhoek, Namibia, November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Noah Tjijenda/File Photo WINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia's ruling SWAPO party led both the presidential and parliamentary races on Tuesday,

Namibia’s ruling party presidential candidate leads in early results of an election characterized by technical problems which caused voting to be extended for three days