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Wednesday, 21 October 2026
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Wednesday, 21 October 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Omu Kakujaha-Matundu

Also known as: Dr Omu Kakujaha-Matundu

Economist who argues housing affordability depends on reducing property prices rather than extending mortgage terms.

2023-10-092026-10-21

News reports

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What’s been said

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  1. October 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says lowering the benefit age could have serious costs

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says lowering the benefit age could have serious costs.”

    ‘No forced retirement at 55’
  3. September 2026
  4. The Namibian

    Omu Kakujaha-Matundu described the issue as a catch-22 situation

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu describes the issue as a "catch-22" situation, asking what Namibia is doing with the children it already has and how much the country is prepared to invest in a larger population.”

    Politicians warn population cannot be managed amid calls for baby grant
  5. June 2026
  6. The Namibian

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the president's proposal is not a bad idea

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the president's proposal is not a bad idea.”

    NNN eyes mandatory community investment
  7. The Namibian

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the overdraft does not signal that the government has gone broke

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the overdraft does not signal that the government has gone broke.”

    Govt turns to N$1.8b overdraft
  8. The Namibian

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the government should focus on reducing house prices rather than blaming banks

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the government should focus on reducing house prices rather than blaming banks for long mortgage repayment periods.”

    Govt targets home loans, but economists say house prices are the problem
  9. The Namibian

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the government's decision needs to be reconsidered due to the decline in De Beer's value

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says the government's decision needs to be reconsidered due to the decline in De Beer's value.”

    Namibia considers N$3bn De Beers stake as experts warn ‘you don’t buy a dead horse’
  10. May 2026
  11. The Namibian

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says Namibia needs a radical shift in how it views the housing crisis

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says Namibia needs a radical shift in how it views the crisis, suggesting that the government stop pushing for homeownership altogether.”

    70% of Namibians too poor to buy a house
  12. The Namibian

    Kakujaha-Matundu says relying on the National Housing Enterprise is no longer viable given its disappointing track record

    Source

    “He adds that relying on the National Housing Enterprise is no longer a viable silver bullet given its "disappointing" track record.”

    70% of Namibians too poor to buy a house
  13. The Namibian

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says it is a matter of time before food prices begin to rise

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu says it is a matter of time before food prices begin to rise.”

    Namibians yet to feel 
Iran war food impact
  14. April 2026
  15. The Namibian

    Omu Kakujaha-Matundu warns Namibia's dependence on South Africa for food imports makes country vulnerable to fuel shocks

    Source

    “Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu warns that Namibia's dependence on South Africa for food imports makes the country highly vulnerable to fuel price shocks.”

    Namibian food prices set to spike as rising fuel costs bite
Society

SSC considering age-55 benefit claims, not forced retirement

The News

The Social Security Commission says allowing members to claim benefits from age 55 would not force earlier retirement, as the change concerns only the age for claiming benefits, not employer-set retirement ages. The proposal, currently under review and not yet approved, would lower the qualifying age for the MSD Fund benefit from 60 to 55 and requires actuarial assessment and government approval.

11 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 11 October

  1. SSC considering age-55 benefit claims, not forced retirement

    The Social Security Commission says allowing members to claim benefits from age 55 would not force earlier retirement, as the change concerns only the age for claiming benefits, not employer-set retirement ages. The proposal, currently under review and not yet approved, would lower the qualifying age for the MSD Fund benefit from 60 to 55 and requires actuarial assessment and government approval.

    11 October 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 21 September

  1. Youth and marriage groups call for government childbearing grant

    Youth leaders and marriage associations have urged the government to introduce a childbearing grant for mothers, following calls by a Swapo Party Women's Council official for Namibians to have more children. Political figures debate the proposal, with one youth leader saying such a grant could help low-income families but must be carefully designed, financially sustainable, and monitored to prevent misuse.

    21 September 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 6 July

  1. Agribank appoints Robert Eiman as new CEO

    Robert Eiman officially assumed duty as Agribank's Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2026 for a five-year term, as the institution pursues organisational transformation to strengthen agricultural finance delivery in Namibia. A new Board of Directors, chaired by Silvia Makgone, will provide strategic oversight during the bank's efforts to enhance sustainability and deliver more innovative financing solutions to the agriculture sector.

    6 July 2026 · Informanté →

Sunday 28 June

  1. Government warns of mandatory investor community contribution law

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that the government could introduce legislation requiring investors to contribute to community development if companies fail to do so voluntarily, urging them to build clinics, roads and sport facilities as part of corporate social responsibility.

    28 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 25 June

  1. 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 →

Sunday 14 June

  1. Economist says high house prices, not loan terms, block affordability

    Economist Omu Kakujaha-Matundu argues the government should reduce house prices rather than target mortgage repayment periods, which typically range from 20 to 30 years. He says longer loan terms make expensive houses affordable for first-time buyers and borrowers can pay off mortgages early if they choose.

    14 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 11 June

  1. Namibia considers up to N$3bn stake in diamond firm De Beers

    The government is considering spending up to N$3 billion to buy a stake in De Beers, reportedly partnering with Angola and Botswana, which already hold 15% of the diamond company. The deal follows Anglo American's decision to exit De Beers and sell its 85% stake, with De Beers' valuation dropping significantly from N$65.7 billion to N$6.9 billion.

    11 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 28 May

  1. 70% of Namibians unable to afford formal housing

    Less than 10% of the working population hold home loans; 70% of the population cannot afford formal housing due to low incomes and limited mortgage access, according to central bank data. Average house prices have risen from N$200,000 in 2000 to between N$1.3 million and N$1.4 million today, while the average working Namibian earns N$5,000 or less per month.

    28 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 27 May

  1. Namibian food prices show mixed trend despite Iran conflict

    Namibians have yet to experience a significant impact on basic food prices from the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, despite predictions of rapid food-price rises. Retail data from January to April shows maize meal prices decreased, sunflower cooking oil rose notably, and other staple items recorded mixed results.

    27 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 9 April

  1. President Nandi-Ndaitwah faces pressure on jobs, housing, fuel ahead of Sona

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to address employment creation, housing affordability, fuel prices, and service delivery in today's state of the nation address. Politicians, businesses, civil society, and economists are calling for practical solutions and progress reports on previous commitments, including the 500,000 jobs target and structural economic reforms.

    9 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Marine Advisory Council tasked with sustainable fisheries management

    Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture has inaugurated a Marine Advisory Council chaired by executive director Teofilus Nghitila to advise on sustainable management of marine resources. Agriculture Minister Inge Zaamwani highlighted the council's role during a critical period for the fishing sector, which faces declining catches due to overfishing, natural conditions, and population pressures.

    8 April 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 5 April

  1. Namibian retailers warn of imminent food price hikes from fuel costs

    Rising fuel costs are expected to drive up distribution and import expenses, prompting major retailers and suppliers to increase prices over coming months. Economists warn that Namibia's heavy reliance on food imports from South Africa, combined with higher transport and production costs, will push inflation higher and hit low-income households hardest.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. Ministry appoints 12-member Marine Resources Advisory Council

    The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has appointed a new 12-member Marine Resources Advisory Council to advise the minister on total allowable catch and marine-related matters. The council will help the ministry sustainably manage marine resources and enhance the fishing industry's contribution to economic development.

    5 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 31 March

  1. Economists warn government fuel subsidy unsustainable

    The government's N$500 million monthly fuel subsidy in response to rising oil prices is unsustainable and will not effectively help the poorest Namibians, according to economists. Several specialists argue direct cash grants to low-income groups would be more effective than broad price subsidies, while transport operators warn of industry strain from the fuel increases.

    31 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 8 March

  1. 75% of employed Namibians support adult dependants

    A 2025 Old Mutual financial monitor report shows that 75% of employed Namibians have adult dependants relying on them for financial support, trapping them in a poverty cycle that prevents savings and wealth accumulation. Economists warn that when one person supports multiple family members, limited income leaves little for daily needs and nothing for long-term investments or generational wealth-building.

    8 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Strait of Hormuz closure threatens Namibia fuel prices and supply

    Reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to Middle East conflict threatens Namibia's fuel supply and could raise prices, as the country imports most refined petroleum from Gulf producers via the strait. Namibian economists warn that prolonged instability could force Namibia to seek alternative suppliers at higher shipping costs and impact inflation through transport and food prices.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 1 March

  1. Namibia's N$104 billion budget prioritises operations over development spending

    Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled a N$104 billion budget for 2026/27 with N$81.3 billion allocated to operations and only N$6.5 billion to development, drawing criticism from economists and opposition figures who warn this allocation will constrain economic growth. The government collected N$89.8 billion in revenue and plans to borrow N$15 billion, while interest payments of N$16.2 billion now exceed the development budget.

    1 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 February

  1. Namibia requires 70% local citizenship in bank leadership roles

    The government has introduced regulations barring foreign nationals from top banking positions, requiring that at least 70% of directors and CEO posts be held by Namibians. Banks that fail to comply face fines of up to N$100,000 or imprisonment, though foreign nationals may be appointed if no qualified Namibian is available.

    22 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 February

  1. FNB launches weSave group savings account for stokvel groups

    First National Bank Namibia has introduced weSave, a group savings account designed to enable structured collective saving for stokvel-style groups with up to 93 members. The product aims to promote financial inclusion and transparency while removing barriers to group saving regardless of location or income level.

    13 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Omu Kakujaha-Matundu — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute