International News
Namibia Elects First Female President Amid Controversial Polls
Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party has declared victory in last week’s tightly contested election, ushering in Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the country’s first female president.
The announcement marks a historic moment for the southern African nation but comes amid allegations of irregularities that have cast a shadow over the results.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) confirmed that Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 57% of the vote, defeating Panduleni Itula of the opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), who received 25.5%.
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However, the IPC has rejected the results, citing widespread failures in the electoral process.
“The IPC shall not recognise the outcome of that election,” said Itula, accusing the electoral commission of mismanagement. He pointed to what he described as a “multitude of irregularities” and vowed to challenge the results through Namibia’s legal system.
Addressing supporters last week, Itula called for calm while urging them to “stand firm to ensure that we shall not be robbed [or] denied our democratic right to choose our leaders.”
IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge reiterated the party’s stance after the results were announced, maintaining that the election lacked credibility.
The election, originally scheduled for November 27, was extended to November 30 due to logistical challenges, including a shortage of ballot papers and malfunctioning electronic voter registration devices.
Many voters reportedly waited up to 12 hours, with some leaving polling stations without casting their ballots.
An organization of southern African human rights lawyers monitoring the polls described the delays as “intentional and widespread.”
The IPC similarly alleged that the logistical issues were a deliberate effort to suppress voter turnout.
The ECN acknowledged the failures, with its chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, calling for unity. “Elections are competitive by nature, but democracy calls upon us to unite once the votes have been counted.
“I urge all Namibians to embrace the results with the spirit of unity, diversity, understanding, and reconciliation,” she said.
The election was seen as a critical test for SWAPO, which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990.
The party’s support has waned in recent years, particularly among younger voters frustrated by high unemployment and economic inequality.
Unemployment among Namibians aged 15 to 34 is estimated at 46%, nearly triple the national average.
While SWAPO retained its majority in the National Assembly with 51 seats, this marked a significant drop from its previous 63 seats. The IPC secured 20 seats, solidifying its role as the main opposition party.
At 72, Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes one of the few female leaders on the African continent.
Known for her steady demeanor and often seen wearing the red, blue, and green colors of SWAPO, she campaigned on a platform of economic diplomacy and job creation.
“Fellow Namibians, we must work together to address unemployment, inequality, and infrastructure development,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said after the results were announced.
As the daughter of an Anglican pastor, she has long been a prominent figure in Namibian politics, serving as vice president since February and as a trusted stalwart within SWAPO.
Despite being a major exporter of uranium and diamonds, Namibia faces significant economic challenges.
Analysts say much of the country’s wealth has not translated into improved infrastructure or job opportunities for its nearly three million citizens.
In a significant political development, John Dramani Mahama was officially sworn in as Ghana’s President today, January 7, succeeding Nana Akufo-Addo.
The 65-year-old leader begins his second tenure in the role, having previously served as president from July 2012 to January 2017.
During the inauguration ceremony, Mahama made an unexpected slip, mistakenly referring to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the “President of Ghana.”
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The statement, made in front of a global audience, quickly went viral.
This marks Mahama’s second time at the helm.
He initially assumed office in July 2012, following the passing of then-President John Evans Atta Mills. After completing Mills’ term, Mahama won the 2012 presidential election, serving a full term before stepping down in 2017.
Today’s inauguration was attended by dignitaries and citizens eager to witness Mahama’s return to power.
Despite the momentary gaffe, the ceremony was hailed as a testament to Ghana’s vibrant democracy.
See video below:
A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote Tibet region on Tuesday, leaving at least 53 people dead and 62 injured, state media reported.
The quake, which hit Dingri County near the Nepal border, also caused significant damage, with over 1,000 buildings affected and many completely destroyed.
The tremor, measured at 6.8 magnitude by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) and 7.1 by the US Geological Survey, occurred at 9:05 a.m. local time (0105 GMT).
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It is the strongest earthquake recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the past five years, according to CENC.
Videos aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed homes reduced to rubble and streets filled with debris.
Surveillance footage from a local store captured the moment of impact, with shelves violently shaking and items like toys crashing to the floor.
In the town of Lhatse, visuals verified by AFP revealed rubble scattered outside shops and eateries.
Rescue workers are seen navigating through the devastation, distributing thick blankets to residents struggling with subzero temperatures.
The China Meteorological Administration warned that temperatures in Dingri could drop to minus 18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit) by nightfall.
“Dingri County and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, and many buildings near the epicenter have collapsed,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “full-scale search and rescue efforts, minimizing casualties to the greatest extent possible, properly resettling affected residents, and ensuring their safety and warmth through the winter.”
Disaster relief, including tents, quilts, and other essential supplies, has been dispatched to the affected areas.
Local authorities are continuing efforts to assess the full impact of the quake, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The earthquake’s tremors extended into neighboring Nepal and parts of India.
Residents of Kathmandu and areas near Everest in Nepal’s high mountains reported strong shaking.
“It shook quite strongly here, everyone is awake,” said Jagat Prasad Bhusal, a government official in Nepal’s Namche region. However, no casualties or damage were reported in Nepal, according to Nepali Home Ministry spokesman Rishi Ram Tiwari.
Some tremors were also felt in India’s Bihar state, though no injuries were reported.
The Himalayan region, situated on a major tectonic fault line where the Indian and Eurasian plates collide, is highly prone to earthquakes.
This latest quake follows other recent seismic disasters, including a 7.8-magnitude quake in Nepal in 2015 that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 22,000.
In China, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake along the China-Kyrgyzstan border in January 2024 killed three people, while a December 2023 quake in Gansu Province claimed 148 lives and displaced thousands.
The extreme weather conditions in Tibet are complicating rescue and relief efforts.
Temperatures in the affected region are already below freezing, and survivors face further hardships as authorities work to restore order and safety.
Xinhua reported that “local authorities are reaching out to various townships in the county to assess the impact of the quake.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his decision to resign, bringing an end to his nearly 10-year tenure as leader of the country.
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Monday, Trudeau said he will step down as soon as the ruling Liberal Party selects a new leader.
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“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister,” Trudeau declared, signaling the conclusion of a political career that began with his election as prime minister in 2015.
The announcement follows months of internal pressure and a political crisis that saw top Liberal Party members urging Trudeau to step aside.
More to follow……….
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