Nangolo Mbumba, Namibia's provisional president, said on Sunday that he will not participate in the 2024 elections.
"My aim was to be a school principal, which I achieved, and now I have to thank the Namibian people for the honor they have bestowed on me to be their president, for a short period of time. I'm not going to be around for the elections, so don't panic," Nangolo Mbumba said at his swearing-in ceremony.
The president’s statement means that Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who was chosen to replace Mbumba as vice president, will continue to be included as a contender on the ballot. If she wins, she will become the first female president of the southern African nation.
The new president also urged the country not to lose heart, despite the loss of its former leader, to whom he paid tribute during the speech.
"It is poignant and reassuring to note that today, even in this time of heavy loss, our nation remains calm and stable," Mbumba said. "This is owing to the visionary leadership and foresight of president Geingob, who was the chief architect of the Namibian constitution and champion of our governance architecture based on sound processes, systems and institutions that are guiding us today."
Former Namibia's president Hage Geingob left behind a middle-income nation that is endeavoring to redefine itself as a front-runner in the global green economy. Notably, in 2022, Namibia became the first African country to agree to provide the European Union with green hydrogen and essential minerals for clean energy.
The country also initiated the construction of Africa's first decarbonized iron plant last November. This plant will solely rely on green hydrogen, derived from water through electrolysis driven by renewable energy. This endeavor is an important step in transforming steel production, an industry notorious for its significant environmental negative impact, according to the authorities.