Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
February 2026
The Namibian
First National Bank accountreceived deposits fromLeon Somaeb for maintenance payments
Source
“He said he lives at Omaruru and deposits the money electronically from his First National Bank account into an account with the reference and account numbers given by the court.”
First National Bank (FNB) NamibialaunchedweSave group savings account to promote transparency and financial inclusion
Source
“First National Bank (FNB) Namibia's new weSave group savings account aims to promote transparency and financial inclusion by enabling structured, collective saving for stokvel-style groups.”
First National Bank (FNB) Namibiaofficially launchedweSave account, a digital group savings product
Source
“First National Bank (FNB) of Namibia on Tuesday officially launched its weSave account, a new digital product designed to enable collective and group savings.”
First National Bank (FNB) Namibiaissued a stern warning toits CashPlus agent network amid unlawful charges concerns
Source
“First National Bank (FNB) Namibia has issued a stern warning to its CashPlus agent network amid growing concerns that some agents are imposing unlawful charges and conditions on customers accessing basic banking services.”
FNB Namibianoted concerns aboutagents imposing extra charges or conditions before transactions
Source
“In a statement issued last Thursday, the bank says it had noted concerns about agents imposing extra charges or conditions before transactions are processed, adding that such practices are not allowed.”
A mathematics support programme implemented by the Namibia Mathematics Institute with FirstRand Namibia Foundation funding has reached approximately 40 000 grade 10 and 11 learners across Namibia by training about 200 teachers in eight education regions over five years, equipping educators with practical classroom skills and learning resources.
A mathematics support programme implemented by the Namibia Mathematics Institute with FirstRand Namibia Foundation funding has reached approximately 40 000 grade 10 and 11 learners across Namibia by training about 200 teachers in eight education regions over five years, equipping educators with practical classroom skills and learning resources.
A mathematics support programme implemented by the Namibia Mathematics Institute and funded by the FirstRand Namibia Foundation has reached an estimated 40,000 grade 10 and 11 learners across Namibia by training teachers with practical classroom skills and learning resources over five years.
Four leading corporate organisations — MTC Namibia, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, FNB Namibia, and Capricorn Foundation — have partnered to launch Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Mukopano, the country's first social investment partnership. The inaugural event, to be held in Windhoek on 11 August, aims to bring together companies, policymakers, development partners, educators and entrepreneurs to coordinate social investment initiatives and community development projects.
Private sector credit extension grew marginally at 0.1% month-on-month in May 2026, with annual growth easing to 4.3% year-on-year from 4.8% in April, driven primarily by weaker corporate borrowing activity and reduced overdraft lending as companies repaid debt.
FNB Namibia expects corporate credit growth to average around 4.5% year-on-year in 2026, with corporates likely to prioritise liquidity preservation amid elevated interest rates. Overdraft lending slowed sharply to 6% in May, while mortgage lending improved to 1.6% and installment sale and leasing credit remained the strongest performer at 22.2%.
An unemployed Rehoboth community activist built El-Roi kindergarten in 2016 to shelter, feed and educate neglected and abandoned children. The facility currently houses three children and is run by the activist and his family with contributions from parents, some of whom cannot afford the monthly N$150 or N$200 fee.
Three armed suspects robbed a Chinese hardware store in Karibib on 20 June, restraining two residents and escaping with approximately N$150,000 in cash, two cellphones, waist bags containing personal documents, and Chinese-branded cigarettes. Police are investigating and no arrests have been made.
First National Bank Namibia and the Central Procurement Board of Namibia have partnered to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in public procurement. The institutions discussed performance guarantees and explored ways to reduce delays in project implementation.
Martha Imalwa, the acting prosecutor general, says she is looking forward to leaving office at the end of the year. The Judicial Service Commission has restarted recruitment for a substantive prosecutor general after none of the eight shortlisted candidates met the required standard in a written assessment.
Desert Foxes FC was relegated from the FNB Women Super League after recording one draw, zero wins and 21 losses. Chairperson Paulo Shipanga attributed the poor performance to lack of squad depth, inexperienced players, and physical strength compared to competitors.
Namibian private sector credit extension accelerated to 4.8% year-on-year in April 2026, driven primarily by a sharp rebound in overdraft lending to both households and corporates, particularly in the mining sector, although longer-term credit categories remained subdued.
NamPost has appointed banking executive Rivan Meyer as its Executive: Financial Services, effective 1 June 2026, to strengthen its financial services offering and accelerate digital transformation. Meyer brings more than 20 years of banking sector experience, including senior roles at FNB Namibia and Nedbank Namibia.
DJ Sbu and Sheldon Tatchell, South African entrepreneurs, will be guest speakers at the 2026 Business Summit Namibia in Windhoek on 25 July. The summit, one of Namibia's leading entrepreneurship and networking platforms, is expected to attract approximately 1,000 attendees.
Namibia's headline inflation rose to 3.1% year-on-year in April from 2.1% in March, driven by higher transport costs following fuel price increases linked to Middle East tensions. FNB Namibia warns inflationary pressures are likely to persist, with further strain dependent on geopolitical developments that could push transport and food prices higher.
The FNB Women Super League reaches its final round tomorrow with Mighty Gunners holding a one-point lead over FC Ongos; Gunners can secure their second successive title with a win or draw depending on results, while the league chairperson praised the improved standard and talent on display this season.
About 70% of Namibians can no longer afford formal housing as property prices have soared while incomes stagnate and mortgage access remains limited. Namibia's housing backlog has grown from around 80,000 households in 2007 to approximately 300,000 housing units by 2025, particularly affecting low and middle-income earners.
Economist Almandro Jansen warns that Namibia's debt situation is becoming a cash-flow and refinancing challenge as government relies on continuous domestic borrowing, with a total financing requirement of approximately N$29.22 billion (10.2% of GDP) for 2026/27, though the country remains capable of funding itself.
Namibia's average house price increased to N$1.46 million in the first quarter of 2026, up from N$1.42 million the previous quarter, driven by shortages of serviced land and limited housing supply. Demand remains strong in central and coastal regions, though the market faces challenges including weak residential plot sales and low mortgage lending.
Namibia's residential property market grew during the first quarter of 2026, with the national house price index increasing 7.1% on a 12-month average basis, though this represents slower growth than the 7.6% recorded at the end of 2025. Luxury housing recorded the strongest growth at 10.8% year-on-year, while transaction volume growth slowed to 10.4% from 17% in the previous quarter.
FNB Namibia expects the central bank to keep the repo rate mostly unchanged in 2026 as inflation risks, weak economic growth, and exchange rate volatility pressure the economy, with the need to protect the currency peg and maintain import cover limiting scope for interest rate cuts despite mining inflows.
The Bank of Namibia held its repo rate unchanged at 6.50% on 29 April, citing weak economic activity, slow private sector credit growth, inflation risks and rand strengthening. An FNB economist said easing credit conditions will likely be tempered by elevated borrowing costs, keeping private sector credit growth subdued.
Five legal professionals have been shortlisted for the position of prosecutor general as incumbent Martha Imalwa's tenure ends. The candidates include former deputy prosecutor general Taswald July, former prosecutor Salomon Kanyemba, chief prosecutor Lucious Matota, and deputy prosecutors general Henry Muhongo and Ruben Shileka.
The Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia has built more than 530 houses valued at over N$23 million over the past decade through partnerships with FNB Namibia, the Pupkewitz Foundation and Ohorongo Cement, with a further 60 homes planned for the coming year in selected urban centres.
First National Bank Namibia has pledged N$569,202 to the City of Windhoek to advance its smart city policing agenda through installation of advanced surveillance infrastructure, including panoramic cameras and automatic number plate recognition systems in high-priority areas.
Namibian commercial banks have no policies to refund defrauded clients, even as the Bank of Namibia reports losses of over N$6 million monthly to fraud. Banks claim liability rests with customers who authorize transactions under deception, while victims say they have been denied compensation; international regulators in the UK and EU are moving to mandate refunds to fraud victims.
Private sector borrowers grew to 4.7% in February from 4.2% in January, ending four consecutive months of slower borrowing. Household credit growth eased to 2.9%, though instalment sale and leasing credit accelerated to 20% y/y, driven by stronger vehicle demand.
The Editors' Forum of Namibia will bar non-member journalists from entering its annual journalism awards from 2027 onwards, with 2026 as a final transition year. The forum says the change aims to ensure all award participants fall under the media ombudsman's authority and are bound by the code of ethics.
Private sector credit extension in Namibia reached 4.7% year-on-year in February 2026, a tentative rebound from earlier months, though growth is increasingly driven by corporate borrowing as households retrench under financial strain. FNB Namibia warns the modest improvement masks fragile underlying conditions, with household credit growth slowing and structural constraints in key sectors limiting broader credit expansion.
Old Mutual Investment Group has appointed Sepo Haihambo as managing director designate for its Namibian operations effective 1 April. Haihambo brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in banking, investment management and financial services, including previous roles at First National Bank Namibia.
Former NFA administrator Barry Rukoro credits the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup, launched in 2001, with identifying and nurturing talent that led to Namibia's 2015 Cosafa Cup win and subsequent international tournament qualifications. The partnership also transformed the NFA's commercial fortunes and spurred national football infrastructure development.