Namibia’s fifth democratically elected Head of State, Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has taken to the helm of the country’s presidency amidst a lot of hype around her being the country’s first female president. 
However, on Friday, 21 March, taking to the podium for her inaugural address, President Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that while becoming the first woman president is worthy of a celebration, in honour of women empowerment, her gender should not be used as a yardstick for her ascendance to the presidency.
“I was not elected because I am a woman, but on merit,” President Nandi Ndaitwah said, further highlighting the importance of merit in leadership roles and emphasising that women should not be given positions solely based on gender but because they are qualified and capable of handling the responsibilities that come with them.
The president told the gathering that she has a track record of having advocated for equality between men and women, and believes that “it is not good for society to underplay the role that one segment of the population can play in the social, political and economic fabric of society.” 
She maintained that the SWAPO Party Congress of 2002 took a bold decision to amend the Party’s Constitution to provide for 50/50 representation in leadership in all Party structures, and the SWAPO Party led government also followed this policy in the running of the government. 
“The result has been encouraging, as many women including myself have been occupying strategic positions in government. We may all know that equality between women and men and the empowerment of women is work in progress all over the world,” she stated, setting Namibia aside for having made good progress despite the fact that ‘a lot remains to be done.’ 
Said Nandi-Ndaitwah; “I believe that having been elected as President of my country, will encourage women from all walks of life to stand up to be counted, with a clear understanding that I was not elected because I am a woman, but on merit. That is to say, as women, we should not ask to be elected to positions of responsibility because we are women, but because we are capable members of our societies to hold those positions.

INSPIRE WOMEN AND MEN

This is not the first time that the president emphasises the need for women to navigate the various social stratum and advance on merit. In an earlier interview, Nandi-Ndaitwah reiterated that having women becoming leaders, on merit, should be an opener to both men and women alike. 
“Younger women should look at it and become motivated to pursue their dreams at all cost. Men should realise the losses that we have incurred in overlooking women for leadership positions and how much we can achieve by ensuring that both genders are equally empowered,” she said. 
She reminisces of a time when she was rising through ranks in the Swapo party and she was appointed as a deputy chief, but without a chief in the senior position, maintaining that she did not fuss but continued to put in the work, which eventually paid off.
“As women we should see ourselves as equal citizens and make decisions that are beneficial for our people,” she said.