The Interview – BBC World Service

Episode: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia: What challenges does she face?
Host: MPO Lagaje
Guest: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of Namibia
Date: April 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the newly elected — and Namibia’s first female — president. The discussion explores the pressures and expectations of her historic presidency, the lingering effects of colonialism, the complex land reform process, relations with global powers, youth unemployment, and the ongoing quest for justice regarding the German colonial-era genocide. The episode also reveals a personal side to President Nandi-Ndaitwah, underscoring her humanity and warmth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trailblazing Leadership & Gender in African Politics

• Breaking Barriers: Nandi-Ndaitwah highlights the rarity of female presidents in Africa, noting her election as another step toward gender equality in public life.

  • Quote:

  “I would want young women to take up that courage, to accept a position of responsibility so that we can dispel that myth of inequality between men and women in the public life.”
  (02:08)

• Expectations and Pressures: She acknowledges the extra scrutiny that comes with being a female leader, expressing a desire to lead on merit while paving the way for others.

  • Quote:

  “Unfortunately, the emphasis now is not only tumba the person, the emphasis is on women... if anything then happen like what it can happen in any administration under men... those who not talk about Netumbo, but rather says look at women.”
  (04:22)

2. Gender-Based Violence & Activism

• Context: Prompted by questions about harassment faced by women in African politics, Nandi-Ndaitwah reiterates her commitment to fighting gender-based violence globally.
  • Quote:

  “I’m a woman activist and I have been and I will continue to fight against, to fight gender-based violence... The laws are there, but laws on themselves, they don't mean anything. It's people that have to implement.”
  (06:03)

3. Land Reform: History, Progress, and Frustrations

• Colonial Legacy: Discusses how the legacy of colonialism left the majority of agricultural land in the hands of a white minority.

• Policy Approach: She details Namibia’s policy of “willing buyer, willing seller” for redistributing farmland, stressing incremental progress and the need for a new land bill to empower further action.

  • Quote:

  “Knowing what was happening in Namibia, the hatred that has been there between black and whites, our founding president declared the policy of national reconciliation... we will not go to outright expropriation, but let us have a policy of willing buyer, willing seller.”
  (07:33)

• Critique & Defense: Faced with criticism that reforms have not gone far enough, Nandi-Ndaitwah insists on measured progress and legal foundations for future actions.

  • Quote:

  “There is progress that has been made but of course not everything is done to our satisfactory... you just create a problem.”
  (09:54)

4. International Relations: Navigating Global Powers

• Land Sensitivities: Acknowledges how land reform discussions can provoke international tensions, referencing South Africa's experiences.

  • Quote:

  “For us, one can be upset, but... if we are doing it in accordance to our laws, will not allow interference.”
  (11:18)

• US Relations & President Trump: States Namibia’s neutral, pragmatic approach to bilateral relations, including with the Trump administration.

  • Quote:

  “It's really not Namibia to have an attitude towards the Trump administration... We believe in cooperation with other states... within the framework of international instruments.”
  (11:47)

  • She confirms receiving a congratulatory letter from President Trump and diplomatic visits from US envoys (12:34).

5. Youth Unemployment, Economic Growth & Green Energy

• Unemployment Challenge: Unemployment, especially among youth, is a pressing challenge exacerbated by COVID-19's impact on Namibia’s small economy.

  • Quote:

  “From 2019 upward, our unemployment rate has gone up. And that is because during the COVID period the whole economy shut down.”
  (15:22)

• Job Creation Strategies: Outlines a broad development agenda focusing on:

  • Agriculture and Agro-processing: Emphasizing irrigation and processing to add value and jobs

  • Mining & Manufacturing: Training youth for new opportunities, especially in oil, gas, and green hydrogen sectors

  • Creative & Fishing Industries: Diversifying sources of employment

  • Quote:

  “At least 15% of the continental raw material should not leave the continent unprocessed... Now in Namibia, we have discovered oil and gas. Our educational institution have to retrain our young people, rescale them, give them new skills.”
  (15:22)

• Resource Exports vs Local Benefits: Stresses the importance of designing green hydrogen and energy projects to create domestic jobs and reinvest profits in Namibia.

  • Quote:

  “Even if they have to solve the problem of Europe when it comes to energy... It will be Namibians who will be working in those factories... because those industries they can create job.”
  (17:59)

6. Addressing the German Colonial-Era Genocide

• Process and Progress: Recaps lengthy negotiations with Germany over reparations for the genocide against Herero and Nama peoples, emphasizing respect for Namibian parliamentary processes and the need for true reparations, not just development funds.

  • Quote:

  “Our parliament took a decision and directed the Namibian government to engage the German government for three things to happen. One, for Yemeni to accept that they have committed genocide... Two, for Yemeni to apologize and number three, for Yemeni to give reparation.”
  (19:35)

  • Outlines complications due to elections in both countries and a current lack of finalized agreement.
  • Quote:

  “We have not yet completely finalized the negotiation... But as a person who's following the process, unless something really dramatically happened, I cannot see this process going to next year.”
  (22:57)

7. Personal Life & Humanity

• Off-Duty Moments: Reveals that she values cooking, spending time with grandchildren, visiting her village, and engaging in traditional life.
  • Quote:

  “I cook. I take care of my grandchildren. You have to live a natural life, not artificial... I like to be in the field doing the normal traditional work. I enjoyed it a lot.”
  (23:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Empowering Women:
  “I would want young women to take up that courage, to accept a position of responsibility...” (02:08)

• On Gender-Based Violence:
  “The laws are there, but laws on themselves, they don't mean anything. It's people that have to implement.” (06:03)

• On Land Reform:
  “We will not go to outright expropriation, but let us have a policy of willing buyer, willing seller.” (07:33)

• On International Pressure:
  “If we are doing it in accordance to our laws will not allow interference.” (11:18)

• On Economic Transformation:
  “At least 15% of the continental raw material should not leave the continent unprocessed...” (15:22)

• On Reparations and Justice:
  “They agree, and we start using the word genocide in the documents... our parliament felt that is nothing.” (19:35)

• Personal Reflection:
  “You have to live a natural life, not artificial... I like to be in the field doing the normal traditional work.” (23:34)

Segment Timestamps Overview

• [02:08] – Breaking barriers for women in African politics
• [04:22] – The extra pressures of being a female leader
• [06:03] – Gender-based violence and advocacy
• [07:33] – Land reform challenges and policies
• [09:54] – Measuring progress and the need for legislation
• [11:18] – Navigating international sensitivities around land reform
• [11:47] – Relations with the Trump administration, diplomatic communications
• [15:22] – Youth unemployment and multi-sector development strategies
• [17:59] – Balancing energy exports and domestic benefit
• [19:35] – Status of reparations talks with Germany over colonial-era genocide
• [23:34] – President’s personal life and how she relaxes

Conclusion

This candid interview with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah offers insights into the unique pressures on Africa’s second-ever directly elected female president, the complexities of healing colonial wounds, the hopes for Namibia’s youth, and the enduring struggles for gender equality. It is both a powerful political exploration and a warm personal portrait.