Also known as: finance minister Ericah Shafudah · Erica Shafudah · minister of finance Ericah Shafudah · Ericah Shafuda · Minister of finance, Erica Shafudah · finance minister Erica Shafudah · minister Ericah Shafudah
Ericah Shafudah — Finance Minister overseeing mid-term budget reviews, revenue shortfalls, and public spending accountability amid economic headwinds.
News reports
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Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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New Era
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled Namibia's N$104 billion national budget on Thursday
“Namibia's N$104 billion national budget, tabled on Thursday by Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah, was dominated by operational spending versus a sharp drop in capital expenditure.”
Operational spending dominates N$104b budget …leaving room for private sector to meet developmental needsThe Namibian
Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah said fiscal consolidation and financial prudence were necessary given high public debt and interest payments
“Presenting the national budget for 2026/27 in the National Assembly on Thursday, minister of finance Ericah Shafudah said fiscal consolidation and financial prudence were necessary in the context of high public debt and high interest payments.”
Budget 2026/27: Namibia state-owned enterprises face funding cuts as fiscal consolidation hits subsidiesThe Namibian
Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah tabled the 2026/27 financial year national budget on 26 February
“On 26 February, minister of finance Ericah Shafudah tabled the 2026/27 financial year (FY) national budget under the theme, 'People, Productivity and Prudence,' amid a sluggish economy.”
Shafudah Walks Fiscal Tightrope as Growth SlowsThe Namibian
Ericah Shafudah revealed that borrowers are expected to save at least N$314 million annually from rate cuts
“Namibian borrowers are expected to save at least N$314 million annually following a 25-basis-point reduction in commercial banks' lending rates implemented by December 2025, minister of finance Ericah Shafudah revealed last week.”
Rate cuts to save borrowers N$314m annuallyThe Namibian
Ericah Shafudah announced income tax adjustments during the tabling of the national budget
“This was announced by minister of finance Ericah Shafudah during the tabling of the national budget last week.”
Tax to be adjusted in AprilThe Namibian
Ericah Shafudah said income tax amendment bill will be presented in the second quarter of 2026
“"The income tax amendment bill is currently under legal review and is set to be presented in the second quarter of 2026," she said.”
Tax to be adjusted in AprilThe Namibian
Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah said the country's debt portfolio is 88% domestic and 12% foreign as at January
“Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah last week said the country's debt portfolio is 88% domestic and 12% foreign as at January.”
National debt to cross N$200-billion markThe Namibian
Shafudah said the currency configuration underscores a prudent external borrowing stance and reduced vulnerability to exchange-rate volatility
“"The currency configuration underscores a prudent external borrowing stance and reduced vulnerability to exchange-rate volatility," Shafudah said.”
National debt to cross N$200-billion markNew Era
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced strong progress on Namibia's first fast and instant payment system
“In her 2026/2027 national budget speech to Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced strong progress on Namibia's first fast and instant payment system.”
Namibia draws closer to instant government paymentsThe Namibian
Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah tabled a budget of N$104 billion for the 2026/27 financial year
“Minister of finance Ericah Shafudah yesterday tabled a budget of N$104 billion for the 2026/27 financial year.”
Namibia tables N$104 billion budget with focus on operations over developmentFinance minister Ericah Shafudah tables the mid-term budget review as Namibia faces revenue shortfalls and new spending pressures from foot-and-mouth disease and drought. Economists expect the government will need to revise financial projections, with one analyst forecasting the budget deficit could widen to 6.5% of GDP from the budgeted 5.5%.
11 hours ago · The Namibian →
Finance minister Ericah Shafudah tables the mid-term budget review as Namibia faces revenue shortfalls and new spending pressures from foot-and-mouth disease and drought. Economists expect the government will need to revise financial projections, with one analyst forecasting the budget deficit could widen to 6.5% of GDP from the budgeted 5.5%.
11 hours ago · The Namibian →
The Agricultural Bank of Namibia provided N$366.9 million in loans between April and August to support the agricultural sector, with portions directed to women, young people, and communal farmers, while the government allocated N$40 million to buy surplus grain for national strategic reserves ahead of anticipated El Niño weather.
12 hours ago · The Namibian →
The government has allocated N$40 million to strengthen security measures under the Office of the President in the 2026/27 financial year, according to finance minister Ericah Shafudah during the mid-year budget review statement. The allocation forms part of N$180 million budgeted under the president's office, with the remaining N$140 million directed toward construction of basic sports facilities across the country.
12 hours ago · The Namibian →
Finance minister Ericah Shafudah announced that the finance ministry will receive an additional N$665 million to address PSEMAS funding, along with N$130 million for the Contingency Fund and N$200 million for defence. The Appropriation Amendment Bill for FY2026/27 will increase total budget appropriation from N$87.9 billion to N$88.6 billion.
12 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
The government has allocated N$179 million in the midterm budget to the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform for containment and management of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The amount was mobilised through a 2% reduction applied to the expenditure ceilings of all offices, ministries, and agencies.
12 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
The ministry of finance is reviewing the value-added tax zero-rating on sugar, citing health effects of sugar consumption as a reason to reconsider the measure. The government is also considering introducing VAT zero-rating on imported agricultural inputs and equipment to reduce domestic food production costs.
12 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
As of September, the government had spent N$47 billion of the N$87 billion appropriated, representing a 53.5% execution rate, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah told parliament during the mid-term budget review. She noted that while the economy continues to expand, growth remains slower than expected amid global tensions.
13 hours ago · The Namibian →
Finance minister Ericah Shafudah will table the 2026/27 Mid-Term Budget Review in the National Assembly today, providing an update on government finances halfway through the financial year, including performance against the March budget and revised economic projections.
20 hours ago · New Era →
A Gibeon Village Council councillor has called on the government to provide disaster funding and emergency equipment, warning that the village lacks resources to handle veld fires, floods, and disease outbreaks. He notes that ongoing foot-and-mouth disease restrictions could leave communal farmers without income, and that the finance minister has said she cannot commit to providing subsidies to affected farmers.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Lawmakers questioned how the National Youth Development Fund monitors funded projects after a parliamentary committee struggled to trace some beneficiaries, amid concerns over loan repayments, monitoring and use of public money. The Finance Minister acknowledged the government had suffered losses under the programme, which approved over 300 youth projects last year.
18 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian examines the national budget structure ahead of the mid-year budget tabling on 22 October. Of every N$100 the government spends, N$38.50 goes to public servant salaries, N$28.70 to state-owned enterprises and social grants, N$9.60 to operational goods and services, N$7.60 to capital investment, and N$15.60 to interest and borrowing expenses.
17 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namdeb Holdings has requested financial assistance from the government as falling global diamond prices have reduced state revenue. Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah noted that the diamond sector, once yielding N$5 billion annually, has declined significantly, with the companies now seeking relief despite Namibia's 50:50 shareholding with De Beers.
15 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said that implementing the budget is the most "problematic" phase of the budget cycle, noting that allocating money to plans is easier than executing them. She cited infrastructure spending, where around N$8.5 billion was allocated for the development budget, and called for at least 50% execution rates from ministries and agencies.
15 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Government Institutions Pension Fund could lose N$815 million invested in a South African fund if a court rules against the company in a tax dispute with the South African Revenue Service, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah told Parliament. The GIPF has recorded the amount as an impairment provision, a precautionary accounting measure, pending the outcome of the ongoing court case.
12 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia has reduced its 2026 economic growth forecast from 3.1% to about 2.1%, with finance minister Ericah Shafudah acknowledging the economy is not performing as expected.
5 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila recused herself from presiding over questions about a N$579-million Development Bank of Namibia debt write-off, citing a conflict of interest because her husband is mentioned in the inquiry. AR leader Job Amupanda had sought to question the finance minister about the write-off and alleged preferential treatment of companies linked to businessman Onesmus Amadhila.
30 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah announced that beneficiaries qualifying for more than one social grant can now receive all their payments in a single transaction on their designated payout date, eliminating the need for multiple collection trips. The change, confirmed by NamPost, aims to reduce transportation costs and financial burden on beneficiaries.
27 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah has called for stronger institutional frameworks, greater capacity, and a culture of accountability across all government levels to support Outcome-Based Budgeting, which shifts the national budget away from inputs and line items toward measuring what expenditure has actually achieved for Namibians.
27 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia's Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah called on Parliamentary Budget Offices across Africa to modernise their analytical tools and institutional capacity as governments face pressure to deliver public value from constrained resources. Shafudah, speaking at the 9th Annual Conference of the African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices in Swakopmund, said PBOs are central to improving transparency and accountability in public finances, and cited Namibia's transition to Outcome-Based Budgeting as an example of why institutional capacity matters.
24 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah has urged public-private partnerships among the private sector, government regulators, and international partners to address climate risks and strengthen Africa's financial autonomy, saying Africa faces a substantial development financial deficit and must build strong reassurance capacity to finance losses from natural phenomena.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
People with disabilities in Keetmanshoop held a demonstration after the Ministry of Finance said the disability grant will remain at N$1,600 per month, despite earlier government announcements in February that suggested both pension and disability grants would increase by N$100 in August. Only the old-age pension was increased to N$1,700.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said Namibia's Parliamentary Budget Office is still in its infancy and parliament is relying on support from sister legislatures and the African Network to establish it. The office is intended to give parliament independent technical capacity to scrutinise government spending, borrowing decisions, fiscal forecasts and budget allocations.
22 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A Cuba gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare raised over N$2.6 million in support of Cuba amid US-imposed hardship, with major pledges from state enterprises including Namibre (N$1m) and Namport (N$200,000). President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibians to contribute, citing the country's moral responsibility to Cuba for its support during Namibia's liberation struggle.
18 September 2026 · The Namibian →
An inaugural government assessment estimates that illicit financial flows worth roughly N$16.7 billion annually—or about 9% of GDP—passed through Namibia during 2021–2022, resulting in an estimated N$2.7 billion in lost tax revenue over the two-year period. The Ministry of Finance released the assessment to strengthen revenue collection and protect the integrity of Namibia's financial system.
14 September 2026 · New Era →
The City of Windhoek has signed a land-swap agreement with the government to settle N$357.8 million in capital debt. Phase One involves six properties valued at about N$291.5 million, leaving a N$66.3 million shortfall to be addressed in Phase Two through additional land transfers.
11 September 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's finance ministry reported tax recoveries exceeding N$28 million in 2025 and more than N$45 million from a single investigation in 2026. The ministry also released estimates showing illicit financial flows of N$16.7 billion annually between 2021 and 2022, representing about 9% of nominal GDP and causing an estimated N$2.7 billion loss in tax revenue.
11 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
A comprehensive government assessment reveals that illicit financial flows—through tax evasion, trade misinvoicing, corruption, and crime proceeds—cost Namibia approximately N$16.7 billion per year, equivalent to 9% of GDP and 16% of the government budget. Trade misinvoicing is identified as a major channel for illegal fund transfers.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia aims to increase sport's contribution to employment from approximately 1% to 3.5% by 2030, with the government calling on institutions, sports bodies and the private sector to support this goal. The initiative was highlighted at the Creative Sport Tourism Expo, where officials emphasised the need for quality coaching, safe facilities, regular competitions and professional administration to develop talent and connect athletes to opportunity.
2 September 2026 · Informanté →
The administration is ramping up efforts to help government and state-owned enterprises realise their potential, with SOEs now required to rigorously account for and deliver productive outcomes after receiving treasury bail-outs and support with little strategic oversight. The government is particularly betting on mining and agriculture sectors to boost state revenue.
30 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association has handed over N$25 million to regional governors to support productive initiatives across all 14 regions, with Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare emphasising that the funds must deliver tangible economic benefits including job creation and infrastructure improvements.
28 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →