‘We stand with her’ – Mbeki on Nandi-Ndaitwah

The former South African president has confirmed he will not miss the inauguration of Namibia’s first woman president at any cost. Former South African president Thabo Mbeki says he has known President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for many years and has full confidence in her ability to lead Namibia with diligence and integrity, especially as she prepares to make history as the country’s first female head of state.Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) at an International Women’s Day event in Johannesburg on Saturday, Mbeki confirmed he will attend her inauguration this month. "I first knew her as a little girl when she arrived in exile in Lusaka. She was still very young at the time. In a sense, she grew up before our eyes. I was very, very happy that, first of all, Swapo nominated her as their presidential candidate, and even more so that she went on to win the election. I was also extremely pleased that, when the matter was challenged in court, the courts ruled that she was duly and properly elected," Mbeki said.He added that as the first woman to hold office in Namibia, she carries the added responsibility of proving women’s leadership capabilities on a broader scale."I have no doubt that she will showcase this through her leadership," he said.He added that he has confirmed his attendance at her inauguration."I couldn’t possibly miss it. Ultimately, I just want to say that we are all standing with her, committed to ensuring her success in what will be an important and demanding task," he said. To the topNandi-Ndaitwah was formally endorsed as Swapo’s president for the next two years at a controversial extraordinary congress on Saturday, solidifying her grip on both party and state leadership ahead of her swearing-in next week.Two weeks ago, Namibian Sun reported that members of the technical committee appointed to develop the implementation strategy for the Swapo manifesto revealed that 80% of the document’s content was personally conceptualised by incoming president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who often worked with the team late into the night, sometimes until 02:00 in the early morning hours.At times, committee members had to urge her to rest, especially when she had government duties diarised early the next morning.However, she often declined their advice and remained with the team until the small hours.nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

‘We stand with her’ – Mbeki on Nandi-Ndaitwah

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-17

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‘We stand with her’ – Mbeki on Nandi-Ndaitwah

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-17

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