Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been elected as Speaker of the National Assembly for a five-year term. The election followed the swearing-in of new members, with Amupanda nominating Ngurare, who declined. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, a long-time assembly member and previous Prime Minister, is the first woman to lead Namibia’s parliament, despite perceptions that this role may be a demotion.
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been appointed as the Speaker of the National Assembly for a five-year term following the swearing-in of new members. Her election took place on a Thursday and signifies a continuation of her prominent political career.
During the election process, Job Amupanda, leader of the Affirmative Repositioning movement, nominated Swapo parliamentarian Elijah Ngurare for the position, but Ngurare declined. Instead, Imms Nashinge, representing the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), put forth the nomination of Bernadus Swartbooi from the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), ultimately leading to a match-up between Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Swartbooi.
Having been a National Assembly member since 1995 and serving as Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2015, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila holds significant experience in governance. She has also been Namibia’s Prime Minister from March 21, 2015, to March 20, 2025, making her the first woman to occupy that role. Despite potential perceptions of her new role as a demotion, her election heralds her as the first female leader of Namibia’s parliament.
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s election as Speaker of the National Assembly marks a significant moment in Namibian politics, reflecting her extensive experience and leadership as both Prime Minister and a long-serving assembly member. Her historical achievement as the first woman to lead the parliament illustrates a progressive step towards gender representation in governance. The political maneuvering while nominating candidates demonstrates a dynamic and competitive legislative process in Namibia.
Original Source: www.namibian.com.na
