Namibia President Nangolo Mbumba has disclosed he won't be vying in the upcoming elections slated for the end of the year.
This decision paves the way for Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, newly appointed vice president and nominee of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), to potentially make history as Namibia's first female president."I am not going to be around for the elections, so don't panic," Mbumba said during his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday.
This unexpected move breaks from the tradition often observed among African leaders, where incumbents frequently seek to retain power once in office.
Mbumba went on to express gratitude to the Namibian people, saying he had achieved what he wanted in life
"I aimed to be a school principal, which I achieved, and now I have to thank the Namibian people for the honour they have bestowed on me to be their president, for a short period," he added.
Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was nominated by SWAPO just over a year ago as their candidate for the upcoming elections.
If successful, she would break new ground as Namibia's first female president, marking a historic moment for the southern African nation.
In adherence to SWAPO's constitution, which forbids changes to the candidate once nominated two years before the polls, Nandi-Ndaitwah remains on the ballot. This constitutional adherence underscores the party's commitment to a stable and consistent electoral process.
Namibia, rich in natural resources such as diamonds, uranium, and lithium crucial for electric car batteries, has been under the rule of SWAPO since gaining independence from South Africa in 1990.
President Geingob, who held office since 2015, passed away at the age of 82 after a brief battle with cancer, leaving a void in the nation's leadership.
As the country navigates this transitional period, the decision by President Mbumba not to seek election adds an unexpected twist to Namibia's political landscape, making way for a potential historic chapter with the prospect of its first female president.
