Also known as: Uanguta · Current central bank governor Ebson Uanguta · Central bank governor Ebson Uanguta · Bank of Namibia governor Uanguta · Governor Uanguta · Governor of the Bank of Namibia · Governor of the central bank · Shadah Uanguta
Central bank governor of Namibia, attributed rising foreign reserves to SACU receipts and currency peg support in 2026.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced that the country's first e-money system will launch later this year, transitioning government social grant disbursements from cash to instant digital payments via accounts or e-wallets. The Bank of Namibia's subsidiary Instant Payments Namibia is developing the system, which has completed integration testing and is undergoing user acceptance testing, with plans for a national digital literacy campaign before rollout.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced that the country's first e-money system will launch later this year, transitioning government social grant disbursements from cash to instant digital payments via accounts or e-wallets. The Bank of Namibia's subsidiary Instant Payments Namibia is developing the system, which has completed integration testing and is undergoing user acceptance testing, with plans for a national digital literacy campaign before rollout.
The 2026 Namibia National Closed Chess Championships is underway in Windhoek this week, running through Sunday to crown national champions and select a team for the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan in September. The tournament features three sections with more than 20 players, including young talent as well as established competitors like International Master Dante Beukes seeking his fourth title.
Namibia's international reserves rose from N$48.6 billion to N$51.9 billion, recovering from a decline caused by the October 2025 Eurobond redemption. Central bank governor Ebson Uanguta attributed the increase mainly to Southern African Customs Union receipts and said the level provides 3.3 months of import cover, sufficient to support the currency peg.
The Bank of Namibia's Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to maintain the repo rate at 6.50%, prioritising monetary stability and protecting the Namibia Dollar's peg to the South African Rand amid a slowing domestic economy, though inflation remains contained and the external trade position has strengthened.
The Bank of Namibia has postponed the introduction of retail bonds to 2027, citing the need to develop systems and external capacity as obstacles, after previously targeting a 2026 launch. Retail bonds will allow individuals to lend to the government at a lower entry point than existing treasury bills or fixed-income bonds.
Three Bank of Namibia executives—Nicholas Mukasa, Emma Haiyambo, and Florette Nakusera—have been shortlisted to fill the vacant deputy governor position; according to sources, Mukasa is the front-runner after the Public Service Commission submitted him as the top contender.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Namibia maintained the repo rate at 6.50%, meaning commercial banks are expected to keep their prime lending rates at 10.00%. The decision was made to safeguard the currency peg with the South African Rand while supporting domestic economic activity, with consideration given to subdued credit extension and weaker domestic growth.
Harry, a Walvis Bay-born defender and accounting graduate, has risen from playing for Ramblers FC to serving as club president since 2013 and has now been appointed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa to the newly established Economic Recovery Task Force alongside other business experts.
The Bank of Namibia has appointed John Steytler and Helvi Fillipus to its monetary policy committee to strengthen the formulation and implementation of monetary policies aimed at safeguarding price stability. Steytler, with three decades of national and international experience including previous roles at the central bank and Development Bank of Namibia, joins as the first independent member, while Fillipus, currently an economic adviser at the Bank of Namibia, joins as the committee's youngest member.
The Bank of Namibia has appointed Helvi Fillipus and Dr John Steytler to its Monetary Policy Committee. Fillipus, an economic advisor at the bank and its youngest MPC member, brings expertise in macroeconomic research and public finances, while Steytler, a distinguished economist and former senior BoN official, joins as the first independent member for a three-year term.