Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made her landmark debut as head of state at the 45th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on August 17, 2025.
From the outset of her speech, President Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed heartfelt gratitude to her Madagascan host, President Andry Rajoelina, and reflected on her personal connection to Madagascar calling the city of Antananarivo a “homecoming.” She praised the development strides Madagascar has made in recent years.
Having been elected president in November 2024, Nandi-Ndaitwah now stands as the face of Namibia and its hopes for the SADC region. She brought greetings from Namibia and voiced the nation’s high expectations for regional unity and progress.
The speech was marked by deep emotion, as President Nandi-Ndaitwah commemorated Namibia’s Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma, who passed away on February 8, 2025. She paid tribute to his legacy and extended condolences to other SADC member states facing their own recent losses, acknowledging former leaders from Zambia, South Africa, and Eswatini. “May all their memories continue to inspire us, and may their legacies serve as beacons guiding us toward lasting peace, sustained progress, and unity,” she stated.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah used the summit to spotlight the empowerment of women, both regionally and continentally. She called on member states to support Namibia’s International Women’s Peace Centre and champion women’s leadership as a global example.
Doubling down on economic liberation, she pledged Namibia’s full commitment to advancing SADC’s goals of sustainable development, job creation, and improving livelihoods. She underscored the urgency of ensuring food security and empowering youth with skills fit for a rapidly changing world, particularly in digital innovation and creative industries.
A key message was the importance of value addition to the region’s mineral wealth. By processing raw materials locally, she argued, SADC could create more jobs and retain greater benefits for its people.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed that peace and security remain foundational for progress urging the region to address persistent instability, especially in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. She honored peacekeepers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice under the SADC Mission in the DRC and called for renewed collective resolve.
“As we face global economic challenges and shifting geopolitics, Africa must harness its political strength and economic resources for a better world,” she urged.
Closing with a call to action, President Nandi-Ndaitwah aligned Namibia’s hopes with the Summit’s theme: advancing industrialisation, agricultural transformation, and energy transition for a resilient SADC. She emphasized that only by working together can the region achieve economic diversification, food security, and a brighter future for all.
“Together, united in purpose and resolve, we can build a peaceful, prosperous, and self-reliant SADC a region we can all feel proud to call our home,” she concluded.
