Thursday, 23 July 2026

Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 23 July 2026

Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—

Namibian press · Organization

Bank of Namibia

Also known as: BoN · The Bank of Namibia

Namibia's central bank responsible for macroprudential oversight and monetary policy, including repo rate decisions and financial system stability assessments.

2018-05-182026-07-23

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

June 2026
29 JunWindhoek Observer
Bank of Namibia set repo rate at 6.75%
Source
“He attributed this partly to the Bank of Namibia's repo rate of 6.75%, following a 25-basis-point increase in response to oil-related inflationary pressures.”
Mining weakness remains key risk as GDP growth stabilises
26 JunThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia has taken positive step by allowing 100% financing for first- and second-home purchases
Source
“The Bank of Namibia has already taken a positive step by allowing 100% financing for first- and second-home purchases.”
Reforming Affordability: How Smarter Credit Rules Can Unlock Housing for Namibians
25 JunThe Namibian
Bryan Eiseb currently heads the FIC at Bank of Namibia
Source
“Eiseb currently heads the FIC at the Bank of Namibia.”
From petrol attendant to ACC boss nominee
25 JunThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia has released latest statement of assets and liabilities
Source
“This is according to the latest statement of assets and liabilities the Bank of Namibia (BoN) has released.”
Govt turns to N$1.8b overdraft
24 JunNew Era
Bank of Namibia is led by governor Ebson Uanguta
Source
“For Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta, the achievement represents far more than a regulatory exercise.”
Namibia’s passes FATF litmus test … exits grey list, boosts financial credibility
21 JunThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia showed commendable foresight by relaxing loan-to-value regulations to allow 100% financing for first- and second-home purchases
Source
“While the Bank of Namibia showed commendable foresight by relaxing loan-to-value regulations to allow 100% financing for first- and second-home purchases, this relief has hit a regulatory brick wall.”
Homes First, Cars Second
21 JunThe Namibian
The Bank of Namibia launched a digital payment platform designed to make transferring money easier for Namibians
Source
“The Bank of Namibia and its partners deserve credit for launching a digital payment platform designed to make transferring money easier for Namibians.”
A Step Towards Inclusion
18 JunThe Namibian
Bank of Namibia undertook a preliminary assessment of the impact of the Middle East conflict on domestic economy
Source
“Internally, we undertook a preliminary assessment of the impact of the conflict on our domestic economy, which we published through a discussion note on our official website.”
Approaching the mid-year point under highly fluid conditions
18 JunNew Era
Bank of Namibia increased repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%
Source
“Home loans, vehicle finance and other forms of credit could soon feel the impact of higher borrowing costs after the Bank of Namibia (BoN) increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75% yesterday.”
Repo rate hike blessing in disguise…hits loans, protects economy
18 JunWindhoek Observer
Bank of Namibia has maintained growth projections at 2.6% for 2026 and 2.9% for 2027
Source
“The Bank of Namibia has maintained its growth projections at 2.6% for 2026 and 2.9% for 2027, supported by expected gains in uranium mining, wholesale and retail trade, financial services, and public administration and defence.”
BoN maintains 2026 GDP growth projection at 2.6%

Business

Bank of Namibia: Financial system remains sound and stable

The News

The Bank of Namibia's Macroprudential Oversight Committee concluded that Namibia's financial system remains sound and stable following an assessment of systemic risks and vulnerabilities. Real GDP grew by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, with growth projected to reach 2.6% in 2026, though the outlook faces downside risks from geopolitical tensions, weaker global demand, and water supply constraints.

21 hours ago · Informanté →

Yesterday

Bank of Namibia: Financial system remains sound and stable
The Bank of Namibia's Macroprudential Oversight Committee concluded that Namibia's financial system remains sound and stable following an assessment of systemic risks and vulnerabilities. Real GDP grew by 2.0% in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, with growth projected to reach 2.6% in 2026, though the outlook faces downside risks from geopolitical tensions, weaker global demand, and water supply constraints.
21 hours ago · Informanté →
Banking sector assets grew 3.8% to N$195.1 billion in Q1
The Namibian banking sector remained well capitalised, profitable and liquid in the first quarter of 2026, with total assets increasing by 3.8% to N$195.1 billion, driven mainly by growth in net loans and advances. Credit risk improved as the non-performing loan ratio declined to 4.2%, while the return on assets and return on equity both decreased.
22 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 21 July

Windhoek residents face rising municipal service costs
Windhoek's Municipal Council announced an average 4% increase on services including water, rates and taxes, sewerage, waste management, and the fire brigade levy, adding to existing cost-of-living pressures on residents alongside higher interest rates and inflation.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Windhoek residents struggle as municipal services costs rise
The Municipal Council of Windhoek has announced an average 4% increase on water, rates and taxes, sewerage, waste management, refuse removal, and fire brigade levy. An observer argues this pressure, combined with higher repo rates and inflation, compounds affordability challenges for ordinary residents.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 19 July

Namibia joins regional cost-benefit analysis initiative
Namibia has joined an initiative with seven other southern African countries to use cost-benefit analysis to help governments achieve better outcomes with limited budgets. The tool translates economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits into present-day dollars, allowing policymakers to compare policy alternatives and prioritise spending.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 July

Namibia's building sector shows recovery in first half of 2026
Namibia's building sector improved in the first half of 2026, with June delivering broad-based gains in approval volumes and values despite elevated borrowing costs and household affordability constraints. In Windhoek, June approvals rose 24.7% year-on-year to 197 plans, with the value of approved plans surging 50.7% year-on-year to N$197.8 million.
16 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 13 July

Fake cop swindles former home affairs minister of N$200,000
An unknown person posing as a police chief inspector from Kongola in the Zambezi region allegedly defrauded former home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana of N$200,000 on 8 July while she was at home. The case is under investigation and has been forwarded to commercial crime.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian authorities warn public against rising vishing scams
Despite mandatory SIM registration, Namibians face an increase in vishing (voice phishing) scams, in which scammers use phone calls to manipulate individuals into disclosing sensitive information or transferring money. Regulatory authorities including Cran, MTC, and the Bank of Namibia stress that while SIM registration improves accountability, it cannot fully address advanced social engineering tactics.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia inflation expected to ease in H2 2026 after June peak
Namibia's inflation, which peaked at 4.4% in June, is expected to moderate in the second half of 2026 following fuel price cuts in July. However, economists warn that electricity tariffs, administered price increases, and food costs pose upside risks.
13 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Sunday 12 July

Windhoek firm loses pensioners' N$250 to N$350 million
Wealth Management Solutions, a Windhoek financial advisory firm, has lost at least N$250 million belonging to pensioners and families through risky foreign investments; the owner allegedly paid out clients from other people's accounts to hide losses, and a liquidator estimates total losses could reach N$350 million.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Public information accessibility without economic knowledge gaps
Many educated, English-literate Namibians struggle to understand public announcements on monetary policy, fuel pricing, and fiscal matters because the problem is not language but lack of specialist knowledge; terms like repo rate and budget deficit represent bodies of knowledge that help citizens understand how institutions and the economy affect their lives.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's housing crisis drives youth rental burden
A national housing backlog of 300,000 units and average formal house prices of N$1.44 million have priced 70% of the population out of homeownership, forcing young working professionals in Windhoek to spend up to half their monthly income on rent as rental payments surge and informal settlements expand.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 July

Bank of Namibia wins Supreme Court appeal on DRC general's funds
The Bank of Namibia won a Supreme Court appeal upholding its decision to forfeit more than N$40 million in a Nedbank Namibia account belonging to retired Democratic Republic of Congo general François Olenga to the state, reversing a High Court decision from June last year that had set aside the forfeiture.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 July

Zimbabwe court recognises SME Bank Namibia liquidation
Zimbabwe's High Court has recognised the liquidation of Namibia's Small and Medium Enterprises Bank and granted liquidators Ian McLaren and Dave Bruni authority to recover the bank's assets in Zimbabwe. The court dismissed objections from Metropolitan Bank of Zimbabwe, a minority shareholder, and ruled that the legal requirements for recognising the Namibian insolvency proceedings had been met.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Gold price surge offsets Namibia's production drop
Namibia's first-quarter 2026 gold export earnings reached N$5.2 billion despite production falling 27.2% quarter-on-quarter to 1,953kg, as international gold prices surged to record levels. The Bank of Namibia attributes the production decline to resource depletion and water supply constraints.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 3 July

MP warns of economic risk from cross-border truck disruptions
MP Nelson Kalangula has warned that escalating disruptions affecting Namibian cross-border truck drivers operating in South Africa could have far-reaching economic consequences for Namibia, particularly due to the country's heavy dependence on South African supply routes. Kalangula noted that some transport operators have withdrawn trucks from South African routes due to safety concerns, reflecting a growing economic risk that could disrupt supply chains and increase pressure on domestic markets.
3 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Thursday 2 July

Namibian economy grows to 2.0% in first quarter 2026
During the first quarter of 2026, Namibia's domestic economic activity picked up to 2.0% growth from 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, marking the eighteenth consecutive positive quarterly value since the second quarter of 2021. Growth was driven by tertiary industries including wholesale and retail trade, financial services, health, education, and public administration, along with strong agricultural performance supported by favourable rainfall and brisk fishing activity, though mining weakened and manufacturing contracted.
2 July 2026 · Informanté →
Current account deficit narrows to N$9.9 billion in Q1
Namibia's current account deficit narrowed to N$9.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, down from N$10.6 billion in the previous quarter, driven by lower services payments and reduced net investment income outflows. The deficit improved to 14% of quarterly GDP, while international reserves increased to N$51.8 billion by end-March and further to N$55.4 billion by end-May, supported by SACU receipts and gold monetisation.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Bank of Namibia, IPN, NamClear sign collaboration agreement
The Bank of Namibia, Instant Payments Namibia (IPN), and NamClear signed a Declaration of Intent to strengthen collaboration and align their operations, aiming to enhance efficiency, resilience and interoperability of the national payments ecosystem by connecting instant payment capability with existing clearing infrastructure.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Wednesday 1 July

Namibia's Q1 GDP growth rebounds to 2.0%, mining sector weakens
Real GDP growth recovered to 2.0% in Q1 2026 after near-stagnation in late 2025, but mining contracted 12.2% due to weaker diamond and gold output, while services expanded around 5%. The Bank of Namibia raised its repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75% in June in response to inflation reaching 4.1% in May, the highest in 14 months.
1 July 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 30 June

Crude oil shocks transmit rapidly to Namibian inflation
Crude oil is the single most important commodity for Namibian macroeconomic conditions. Global oil price surges—driven by Middle East disruptions and supply constraints—cascade quickly into domestic fuel price increases, as demonstrated by April-May 2026 fuel price hikes of 19.9% for petrol and 43.9% for diesel.
30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 29 June

Mining weakness poses risk despite Q1 2026 GDP stabilization
Namibia's economy showed 2% year-on-year GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026, stabilizing after near-stagnation in late 2025, but persistent weakness in mining—particularly a 12.2% contraction in the sector, with diamond production down 18.6% and base metals down 31.2%—remains a key downside risk for 2026 growth prospects, according to Simonis Storm Securities.
29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Friday 26 June

Housing affordability rules treat homes like depreciating assets
Namibia's financial regulators apply a uniform 30-33% debt-to-income ceiling to both housing and vehicle loans, treating appreciating property the same as depreciating cars. The article argues this blanket rule locks creditworthy Namibians out of homeownership despite the Bank of Namibia's recent move to allow 100% financing for first- and second-home purchases.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

Bryan Eiseb nominated to lead Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has nominated Bryan Eiseb, currently head of the Financial Intelligence Centre, to lead the Anti-Corruption Commission, with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare tabling a motion in the National Assembly for parliamentary approval. Eiseb, 55, would succeed Paulus Noa, whose term as director general ends this month.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Government cash balance hits zero, uses N$1.8b overdraft
The government's available cash balance dropped to zero at the end of May, forcing it to rely on a N$1.8 billion overdraft facility from the Bank of Namibia to cover financial needs. An economist says the overdraft reflects temporary cash flow timing issues, not insolvency.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 24 June

Namibia exits FATF grey list after major financial reforms
Namibia has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list as of 19 June 2026, following the amendment of nine laws and enactment of four new pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures. The government hailed the removal as a turning point for investor confidence and integration into the global financial system.
24 June 2026 · New Era →
Namibia exits FATF grey list, strengthening financial system confidence
Namibia has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring, effective 19 June 2026. Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said the exit reflects political commitment and institutional coordination on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing reforms, while cautioning against complacency.
24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 23 June

Eiseb nominated as next Anti-Corruption Commission director
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has nominated Financial Intelligence Centre director Bryan Eiseb as the new director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, to succeed Paulus Noa whose term ends this month. If approved by parliament, Eiseb will serve a five-year term.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
PM seeks parliamentary approval for ACC director general appointment
Prime Minister Dr Elijah Ngurare has given notice that he will ask the National Assembly to approve the presidential appointment of Bryan Eiseb as Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission for a five-year term, and the one-year extension of Advocate Erna van der Merwe's tenure. Eiseb currently serves as Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre at the Bank of Namibia.
23 June 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia pursues US$250 million climate fund for industrial decarbonisation
The government launched a multilateral development bank mission to finalise a Sectoral Transformation Investment Plan to access up to US$250 million in concessional climate financing under the Climate Investment Funds' Industry Decarbonisation Programme, aiming to support the transition of high-emitting sectors and scale up green industries.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →