Outgoing leader Mbumba hands power to Nandi-Ndaitwah at a ceremony coinciding with country’s 35th independence day. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been sworn in as Namibia’s first woman president, after winning elections last year that extended the governing party’s 35-year grip on power. Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, became one of the few women leaders on the African continent, following a ceremony on Friday attended by heads of state from several African countries including Angola, South Africa and Tanzania. Outgoing President Nangolo Mbumba, 83, handed power to Nandi-Ndaitwah at a ceremony that coincided with the 35th anniversary of Namibia’s independence and was moved from the Independence Stadium to State House because of rare heavy rains. Loud applause and ululations erupted as NNN, as Nandi-Ndaitwah is popularly known, took her oath of office. In her inaugural speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged her historic election, but also said that Namibians elected her for her competence and merit. She added that while the country has seen progress since independence, “there’s a lot that needs to be done.” Previously in the post of vice president for a year, she is a veteran of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) that led the sparsely populated and uranium-rich country to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990. Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 58 percent of the vote in the chaotic November elections, which were extended several times after logistical failures led to major delays. Namibia is witnessing one of its “foremost daughters breaking through the glass ceiling”, outgoing leader Mbumba said. “It has been a long time coming.” The youthful opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) mounted a strong challenge at last year’s election but took only 25.5 percent of the presidential vote, underscoring continued loyalty to SWAPO even as the popularity of other Southern African liberation parties has waned. A key issue at the ballot box was widespread unemployment among the young population, with 44 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds without work in 2023 in a country of just three million people. On the eve of her inauguration, Nandi-Ndaitwah said tackling unemployment was a priority. “In the next five years we must produce at least 500,000 jobs,” she told South Africa’s national broadcaster SABC, adding it would require an investment of 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.67bn). Key sectors for job creation are agriculture, fishing and the creative and sports industries, she said. She appealed for unity after political divisions surfaced during the elections, which the IPC sought to annul in a failed court action. “We can make our politics during the campaign and so on but once it’s over, we must build Namibia together,” she said. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

The autopsy performed on former Nigerian boxer, Olanrewaju Segun ‘Success’, has revealed that he died from sudden cardiac arrest during his bout in Ghana last Saturday, The PUNCH reports. According to the Secretary-General of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and West African Boxing Union President, Remi Aboderin, the preliminary post-mortem results indicated cardiac arrest as the cause of death, but further investigation is needed before the body can be released. “The preliminary post-mortem results indicate that Segun died from sudden cardiac arrest. “But further investigation into his heart condition is required, and as a result, his body will not be released to Nigeria for burial until approximately two weeks,” Aboderin said. The autopsy was conducted on Wednesday, April 2 following a court order into the death of the Nigerian boxer. The 40-year-old had been pronounced dead at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra last Saturday after collapsing during his fight against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League. Olanrewaju was leading on points in the scheduled eight-round light-heavyweight contest before the tragic incident occurred. The medical team at the Bukom Boxing Arena quickly rushed into the ring, removed his gum shield, and attempted to resuscitate him as he appeared to be gasping for breath. He was subsequently transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Olanrewaju, a former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, had an extensive boxing career since making his debut in 2019, competing in 24 professional fights with 13 wins (12 by knockout), nine losses, and two draws.

South Korea’s coach on Monday hit out at Bayern Munich over their handling of Kim Min-jae after the defensive stalwart was ruled out of crunch World Cup qualifiers with an Achilles tendon injury. The 28-year-old centre-back missed Bayern’s 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday and is also out of South Korea’s 2026 qualifiers against Oman and Jordan. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said last week that Kim will be out for “several weeks”. Speaking ahead of the home game against Oman on Thursday, South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said that “Munich failed to properly protect him in terms of injury prevention”. “Kim Min-jae is an extremely important player not only for his club Bayern Munich but also for our national team,” Hong told reporters according to Yonhap news agency. “Just because a match is important doesn’t mean it’s right to have Kim on the pitch,” he added. Hong said there had been “continuous signs” since last year that Kim was struggling with injury. “We were fully aware of that,” he said. Victories against Oman and again at home to Jordan on Tuesday next week will send South Korea to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Kim is an ever-present for his country with 69 caps. He moved to Bayern from then Italian champions Napoli in the summer of 2023 and has gone on to make 73 appearances for the German giants in all competitions. AFP

A real estate firm, Footy Homes & Properties has reiterated its commitment to accessible homeownership without financial strain. In a statement on Sunday, its founder, Olamuyiwa Abdulazeez noted that it seeks to provide affordable housing to all classes of people while delivering modern homes equipped with futuristic features in construction and engineering design.  “Our commitment to quality, integrity, and customer satisfaction has made us a leader in our field.” This assertion is supported by the recent achievement of securing a multi-billion naira real estate partnership deal, showcasing the brand’s growth and influence in the competitive real estate market,” he said. He said with a clear vision, a robust mission, and unwavering core values, the brand is poised to make a significant impact in the real estate sector, while redefining the standards of affordable housing, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to own a piece of real estate without compromising their financial stability. “Additionally, we offer flexible payment plans, allowing clients to spread their payments over three to six months, making homeownership more accessible to a broader audience. The brand places significant emphasis on ensuring that all its estates come with verifiable documents, providing potential investors with peace of mind regarding the authenticity of their investments,” he added.