25 Facts About Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was the first female presidential candidate for SWAPO in 2024.

In 2017, Nandi-Ndaitwah was elected vice president of SWAPO, the first woman to serve in that position.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is a long-time member of the National Assembly.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah Nandi was born on 29October 1952 to Justina Nekoto Shaduka-Nandi and Petrus Nandi in Onamutai, South West Africa, today near the border of Ohangwena Region and Oshana Region, Namibia.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became politically active as a teenager, joining SWAPO's ranks at the age of 14.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah soon became the leader of SWAPO's Youth Movement organisation, fighting to end South Africa's occupation.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah soon became a target for the opposition, forcing her to go into hiding.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah went into exile in 1973 and joined SWAPO members in Zambia.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah worked at the SWAPO headquarters in Lusaka from 1973 to 1975 and attended a course at the Lenin Higher Komsomol School in the Soviet Union from 1975 until 1976.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah graduated with a diploma in the work and practice of the communist youth movement.

In 1989 Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah obtained a master's degree in diplomatic studies, from Keele University.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became the SWAPO deputy representative in Zambia from 1976 until 1978 and the chief representative in Zambia from 1978 to 1980.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was a member of the SWAPO central committee from 1976 to 1986 and the Namibian National Women's Organisation president from 1991 to 1994.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1990.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation from 1990 to 1996 and first gained ministerial status in 1996 as director-general of Women's Affairs in the Office of the President, where she served until 2000.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah subsequently served as the minister of environment and tourism until a major cabinet reshuffle in December 2012, in which she was appointed minister of foreign affairs, a portfolio since renamed to International Relations and Cooperation.

Under President Hage Geingob, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was appointed as deputy prime minister in March 2015, while serving in parallel as the minister of international relations and cooperation.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah sits both on SWAPO's central committee and the politburo.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the party's secretary for information and mobilisation and as such, is one of SWAPO's main spokespeople.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the first woman serving in that role.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is married to Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is interested in children's community work and reading.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was awarded the 'thought leadership' at the Namibia Sustainable Development Awards.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was recognized with an Inter-Generational Leadership Award at the 2024 Nala Feminist Summit.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah further holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.