Namibia Minute.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 8 June 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

International Monetary Fund

Also known as: IMF

International organization that has engaged with Namibia on economic forecasts, approved emergency pandemic financing, and runs a Young Parliamentarians Initiative.

2018-04-062026-06-08
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What’s been said

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

  1. June 2026

  2. Informanté

    International Monetary Fund issued a mid-year estimate of 3.75% GDP growth for Namibia

    Source

    “Namibia closed 2025 with GDP growth of just 1.7% — a result that disappointed on almost every forecast, including the government's own budget projection of 2.9% and the IMF's mid-year estimate of 3.75%.”

    Monthly Economic Update – May 2026
  3. May 2026

  4. The Namibian

    International Monetary Fund provided N$3.9-billion emergency loan to Namibia

    Source

    “Namibia has fully repaid its N$3.9-billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), bringing its participation in the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) programme to an end.”

    Namibia repays N$3.9b IMF emergency loan, zero outstanding balance
  5. April 2026

  6. The Namibian

    International Monetary Fund projected South Africa's GDP per capita at about US$6,800 by 2025

    Source

    “Singapore's GDP per capita is now roughly US$100 000 (about N$1.6 million) in 2025, or more than 14 times that of South Africa (projected at about US$6 800 (about N$112 165) by the International Monetary Fund.”

    Will Namibia Pursue the Singapore or the SA Model?

  7. New Era

    The International Monetary Fund Young Parliamentarians Initiative aims to strengthen engagement with a new generation of legislators and better understand economic priorities

    Source

    “The initiative aims to strengthen engagement with a new generation of legislators and better understand the economic priorities of younger constituents.”

    REPRESENTATIon…

  8. The Namibian

    International Monetary Fund described Senegal's economy as 'robust' with 8% growth and low inflation

    Source

    “Last year, the International Monetary Fund described the country's economy as "robust" with a growth rate of almost 8% and low inflation.”

    Senegal bans ministers from foreign travel as oil price rise bites

  9. Informanté

    International Monetary Fund assessed Namibia's economy grew 1.7 percent in 2025

    Source

    “Namibia's economy grew by just 1.7 percent in 2025, according to the IMF's assessment following its Article IV mission to Windhoek earlier this month”

    Monthly Economic Update – March 2026

  10. Informanté

    International Monetary Fund warned sustained higher energy prices will feed into transport, goods, and food costs worldwide

    Source

    “The IMF warned just this week that sustained higher energy prices will feed into transport, goods, and food costs worldwide”

    Monthly Economic Update – March 2026

  11. The Namibian

    International Monetary Fund shapes domestic policy in Namibia

    Source

    “It is crucial not to underplay how external pressures (International Monetary Fund, global markets) shape domestic policy.”

    A Left‑Wing View of Namibian Independence
  12. March 2026

  13. The Namibian

    International Monetary Fund said Namibia's economy is doing well and not amid a crisis

    Source

    “This was said by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during a meeting with the Ministry of Finance on Friday.”

    Namibia's economy not experiencing any crisis – IMF

  14. The Namibian

    International Monetary Fund projects Africa's economic growth will outpace Asia's in 2026

    Source

    “In 2026, the continent's economic growth is expected to outpace Asia's for the first time in modern history, according to the International Monetary Fund.”

    Why Africa’s Economic Surge Leaves Many Behind
Business

Namibia's 2025 GDP growth fell short at 1.7%

The News

Namibia closed 2025 with GDP growth of 1.7%, below government and IMF forecasts, weighed down by depressed diamond revenues and livestock sector recovery from drought; uranium and gold mining, wholesale trade, transport, and services supported growth. The Bank of Namibia has revised its 2026 forecast down to 2.6%, citing elevated fuel costs and softer global demand, while inflation rebounded to 3.1% in April after reaching a cycle low of 2.1% in March, driven by rising transport, utility, and food prices.

Why it matters

Namibia's 2025 GDP growth of 1.7% fell short of forecasts, signalling economic slowdown with implications for employment and public finances.

2 June 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. Namibia's 2025 GDP growth fell short at 1.7%

    Namibia closed 2025 with GDP growth of 1.7%, below government and IMF forecasts, weighed down by depressed diamond revenues and livestock sector recovery from drought; uranium and gold mining, wholesale trade, transport, and services supported growth. The Bank of Namibia has revised its 2026 forecast down to 2.6%, citing elevated fuel costs and softer global demand, while inflation rebounded to 3.1% in April after reaching a cycle low of 2.1% in March, driven by rising transport, utility, and food prices.

    2 June 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 11 May

  1. Former Botswana president Festus Mogae dies at eighty-six

    Former Botswana president Festus Gontebanye Mogae, aged 86, died in Gaborone over the weekend. Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and current Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko paid tribute to Mogae as a distinguished statesman and principled leader whose presidency strengthened regional cooperation through SADC.

    11 May 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 2 May

  1. Namibia completes repayment of N$3.9 billion IMF emergency loan

    Namibia has fully repaid its N$3.9-billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund, with the final payment made on 15 April, closing the Rapid Financing Instrument facility approved in April 2021. The loan was used during the Covid-19 pandemic to stabilise the economy, support vaccine procurement and rollout, and address fiscal pressures from declining export revenues and external account strain.

    2 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 26 April

  1. Namibia faces choice between Singapore or SA development model

    Namibia's upcoming offshore oil, gas, and mineral wealth presents an opportunity or trap depending on management. An opinion piece contrasts Singapore's model of meritocracy and clean governance with South Africa's race-based empowerment and state patronage, positioning them as competing templates for Namibia's development path.

    26 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Namibian MP Mootu joins IMF Young Parliamentarians Initiative

    Member of Parliament Utaara Mootu will participate in the inaugural cohort of the International Monetary Fund Young Parliamentarians Initiative, which aims to strengthen engagement with younger legislators and understand their economic priorities. The discussions will be held from 12 to 15 April 2026 in Washington, D.C.

    7 April 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 5 April

  1. Senegal restricts minister travel as oil prices surge

    Senegal's prime minister has banned government ministers from non-essential foreign travel due to rising oil prices stemming from the Iran conflict, with the cost of a barrel approaching double the budgeted amount. The move reflects a broader continental response to oil price rises, with other African countries reducing fuel levies, rationing electricity, and implementing other cost-cutting measures.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 April

  1. Namibia's 2025 economy grew 1.7%, recovery building in 2026

    Namibia's economy expanded by just 1.7 percent in 2025, weaker than government projections, as diamond demand slumped and livestock recovered from drought; however, 2026 is showing signs of improvement with better agricultural rains, strong uranium exports, and new offshore oil investment, though rising energy prices from Middle East conflict threaten inflation gains.

    1 April 2026 · Informanté →

  2. Marxist analysis: Namibian independence did not achieve economic emancipation

    A left-wing critique argues that while independence brought political sovereignty and constitutional achievements, economic structures of racial capitalism were not dismantled but "redecorated," and inequality persists because the state remains integrated into global capitalism and neoliberal logic. The article contends that class replaced race as the mechanism of exclusion, and that emancipation requires structural transformation of the economic base, not merely social spending or policy reform.

    1 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Saturday 28 March

  1. IMF: Namibia's economy stable, but growth remains weak

    The International Monetary Fund told Namibia's Ministry of Finance that the country is not in financial crisis, despite weak diamond sector sales affecting economic growth. Real GDP growth slowed to 1.7% in 2025 and is expected to remain subdued, the IMF delegation leader said, urging reforms to support diversification and job creation.

    28 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. PDM MP warns of mounting debt-servicing strain on fiscal space

    PDM parliamentarian Inna Hengari has expressed concern about the accelerating debt-servicing burden, describing it as an "interest cost trap." She noted that interest payments are forecast to reach N$16.2 billion in 2026/27 (17.7% of revenue), while public debt stands at 65.2% of GDP, with 27% held in short-term treasury bills, leaving little capacity for infrastructure, social spending, or private-sector stimulus.

    11 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Economists warn debt pressure will persist despite near-term gains

    While Namibia's debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to dip slightly from 67.3% to 66.1%, economists warn the improvement may be temporary as slower-than-projected economic growth could push the ratio above 70%. Rising interest payments—forecast to reach N$16.2 billion in 2026/27—are increasingly straining public finances and limiting resources for development and social programmes.

    11 March 2026 · New Era →

Friday 6 March

  1. Africa's growth surge masks persistent household hardship

    While the International Monetary Fund forecasts Africa's 2026 economic growth will outpace Asia's for the first time in modern history, economists warn that this recovery has yet to translate into improved living conditions for ordinary people in major economies like South Africa and Nigeria. In both countries, high costs for food, energy, and transport persist despite macroeconomic gains, and households remain poorer than a decade ago.

    6 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Finance Minister Shafudah tables 2026/27 budget as growth weakens

    Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah presented the 2026/27 national budget under the theme 'People, Productivity and Prudence' amid a sluggish global economy, with Namibia's growth revised down to 2.9% for 2025 and projected at 3.1% for 2026. The budget faces revenue constraints from weak diamond receipts and lower customs union revenues, while expenditure exceeds revenue, with development spending declining notably as externally funded projects dry up.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 February

  1. Namibia's mixed economy shows inflation easing, exports strong

    Namibia's economic outlook remains nuanced, with gold and uranium exports driving improvements in the trade deficit and international reserves, while agriculture, fishing, mining, and manufacturing contracted in early 2025. Inflation has eased to 2.9 percent as of January 2026, down from 3.5 percent in 2025, though the diamond sector remains pressured by global inventories and lab-grown competition.

    23 February 2026 · Informanté →

Thursday 19 February

  1. Bank of Namibia holds repo rate steady at 6.50%

    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.

    19 February 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 11 February

  1. Bank of Namibia appoints two new members to Monetary Policy Committee

    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.

    11 February 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 27 January

  1. Government spending outpaces revenue, economists warn of debt risks

    Namibia's government is spending faster than it generates revenue, with analysis showing the apparent healthy cash position was largely due to sinking fund reserves rather than actual revenue collection. Experts warn that without improved tax collection and controlled spending, the country risks increasing reliance on borrowing, potential social spending cuts, and possible delayed creditor payments.

    27 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 21 January

  1. Malawi fuel prices rise 40% amid economic reform push

    Malawi's energy regulator has increased petrol and diesel prices by more than 40%, the second hike in four months, citing an unsustainable fixed-pricing system. The move is expected to raise transport and commodity costs, potentially worsening the cost-of-living crisis as President Peter Mutharika's administration shifts to an automatic pricing mechanism linked to fuel shipping expenses.

    21 January 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 20 January

  1. Gold hits record on Trump tariff threats, stocks slide

    Gold and silver prices reached all-time highs while stock markets declined as investors sought safety following US President Donald Trump's threat of up to 25% tariffs on European countries over his Greenland ambitions. European leaders, including Denmark, said they stand united against the threat, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that trade wars are in no one's interest.

    20 January 2026 · New Era →

International Monetary Fund — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute