Namibia has etched its name in history as the first nation on the continent to boast an all-female leadership trio at the helm of its political institutions.
The southwestern African country is now led by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi, and Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, representing a shift in the landscape of political representation and gender equality.
The historic milestone was cemented on March 21, 2025, when Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Namibia’s first female president during a ceremony at the State House in Windhoek.
Just a day later, on March 22, President Nandi-Ndaitwah unveiled her first cabinet, appointing Lucia Witbooi as the country’s inaugural female vice president.
This announcement was paired with the election of Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as the first female Speaker of the National Assembly, completing the unprecedented trio.
Together, these appointments have positioned Namibia as a trailblazer, not only in Africa but globally, in the pursuit of gender parity in leadership.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is a veteran of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990, she joined the liberation movement at the age of 14.
Rising through the ranks, she served as SWAPO’s first female presidential candidate in the 2024 election and briefly as the country’s third vice president from 2024 to 2025 before ascending to the presidency.
Her inauguration also made her husband, a retired general and former commander of Namibia’s armed forces, the nation’s first “First Gentleman.”
Vice President Lucia Witbooi, a long-serving lawmaker, was tapped by Nandi-Ndaitwah to serve as her deputy. Witbooi’s portfolio includes oversight of marginalized communities and disability affairs.
Known for her steadfast commitment to public service, Witbooi’s appointment underscores the administration’s focus on social equity.
Completing the trio is Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who made history as Namibia’s first female Speaker of the National Assembly. She has served as former prime minister and as finance minister.
