Voting is underway in Namibia in what could be the most contested election since independence from white-dominated South Africa 34 years ago.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah wants to be the country’s first female leader.
He is representing the ruling South West African People’s Organization (Swapo), to replace Hage Geingob, who died in February after serving nine years.
But the rise in unemployment, poverty, inequality and issues of corruption have undermined the party.
Nandi-Ndaitwah’s main rival is Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), along with 14 other candidates.
Local media reported that long lines had already formed at schools and other polling stations when voting began on Wednesday morning.
Voting, which started at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) will close at 21:00.
Swapo has been in power since the country gained independence in 1990.
A contestant needs more than 50% of the vote to win, or there will be a runoff between the top two.
Nandi-Ndaitwa cast her vote in the capital Windhoek as the election began, urging Namibians to go to the polls, saying it “will affect the next five years of your life”.
She is against the political and male-dominated culture of the country.
But he is a reliable leader who has been serving in the highest government position for four years.
Itula, a former dentist and lawyer, took 29% of the vote in the last election in 2019, losing to Swapo leader Geingob, who got 56%.
He said this is a very important day for democratic governance in Namibia when he votes for the capital of Namibia.
Namibia is currently led by former president Nangolo Mbumba, who took over in February after Geigob’s death, but is not running for office.
Experts say the results may depend on young voters, who make up more than half of the electorate.
Namibians are also electing new members of parliament.
Namibia is a large and peaceful country with a small population of about 3 million people, about half of whom are eligible to vote.
You may also like:
[Getty Images/BBC]
Go to BBCAfrica.com to hear more from Africa.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfricaon Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Leave a Reply