The president of Namibia is both the head of state and the head of government. This leader oversees the executive branch, leads the Cabinet, and serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
According to Namibia’s Constitution, a president can only serve two terms. This rule was first applied to Hifikepunye Pohamba, who completed his second term in 2015.
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Complete List Of Namibian Presidents From 1990 Till Date
No. | Name | Term of Office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sam Nujoma | 21 March 1990 – 21 March 2005 | SWAPO |
2 | Hifikepunye Pohamba | 21 March 2005 – 21 March 2015 | SWAPO |
3 | Hage Geingob | 21 March 2015 – 4 February 2024 | SWAPO |
— | Nangolo Mbumba | 25 January 2024 – 4 February 2024 | SWAPO |
4 | Nangolo Mbumba | 4 February 2024 – March | SWAPO |
5 | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Elect) | 21 March 2025 - Present | SWAPO |
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Who Was The Namibian First President?
The first president of Namibia was Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma. He was born on May 12, 1929, in the village of Etunda, located in the Omusati Region of Namibia.
As a young boy, he spent much of his time looking after livestock and attending night school. At 16, he left school to work for the South African Railways as a dining car attendant.
This job exposed him to the harsh realities of apartheid, which fueled his passion for activism. In the late 1950s, Nujoma established the Ovamboland People’s Organization (OPO) to improve living conditions for the Ovambo people.
OPO later became the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in 1960, with Nujoma as its first president. SWAPO initially sought peaceful negotiations to end South Africa’s control over Namibia, but after little progress, Nujoma led the organization into an armed struggle in 1966.
This was the start of the Namibian War of Independence. Under Nujoma’s leadership, SWAPO’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), fought tirelessly for freedom.
After years of conflict, Namibia gained independence on March 21, 1990. Nujoma was elected the first president and was sworn in by the UN Secretary-General.
His presidency focused on national unity, using the motto “One Namibia, One Nation.” He improves the economy, education, and healthcare, while also addressing poverty and unemployment.
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Who Is The Current Namibian President?
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the president of Namibia, making history as the first woman to hold this position. She was elected on December 3, 2024, with 57% of the vote.
Her election is a major milestone in Namibia’s history, as the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) has governed the country since gaining independence in 1990.
Born on July 12, 1952, in northern Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah became politically active at a young age. She joined SWAPO in the 1960s, during Namibia’s fight for independence from apartheid South Africa.
After Namibia gained independence in 1990, she was elected to the National Assembly and later served as a minister in different government departments.
Some of her key roles included serving as Minister of Women’s Affairs and Child Welfare from 2000 to 2005 and as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 2012 to 2015.
From 2018 to 2024, she was the vice president before she was elected president. She won against her main opponent, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), who received 26% of the vote.
As president, she faces challenges like unemployment, poverty, and inequality, which affect many Namibians. She has promised to fight corruption and promote gender equality.
