Namibia’s presidential election on November 27 could mark a turning point if the ruling SWAPO party loses its grip on power. The party has led the country since gaining independence in 1990 but its popularity has since waned. Five main candidates are contesting in the election. Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, SWAPO’s candidate, is the party’s first female presidential candidate. Panduleni Itula, a former SWAPO member, is the second candidate. He leads the Independent Patriots for Change party and secured 29% of the votes during the 2019 election. The third candidate is McHenry Venaani, the leader of Namibia’s largest opposition party in parliament. He was elected to parliament in 2003, becoming its youngest member. The fourth contender, Bernadus Swartbooi of the Landless People’s Movement, was a deputy minister under SWAPO while Job Amupanda is a former SWAPO youth leader who now leads the Affirmative Repositioning party.
SOURCE: REUTERS
