Also known as: SACU
Southern African Customs Union — regional trade bloc comprising Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa, approving regional development funds and pursuing AGOA extension.
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Informanté
SACU will bring together leaders from five member states — Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa
“The summit will bring together leaders from the five SACU member states — Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa — to discuss regional economic integration, industrial development and trade cooperation.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah to attend SACU Heads of State SummitThe Namibian
Southern African Customs Union generated revenue that contributed to government debt reduction
“"The monthly contraction from the March peak is consistent with the government's receipt of Sacu revenue and the normalisation of fiscal expenditure flows into the new financial year," he says.”
Govt debt to local banks climbs to N$52.4 billionWindhoek Observer
Southern African Customs Union provided inflows supporting Bank of Namibia's international reserves increase
“The Bank of Namibia's (BoN) stock of international reserves increased by 13.6% in April to N$58.8 billion, supported by inflows from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Customer Foreign Currency (CFC) placements.”
SACU inflows push reserves to N$58.8bnThe Namibian
Southern African Customs Union determines tariff structures
“According to Namra, Namibia cannot independently reduce these charges because tariff structures are determined by the Southern African Customs Union.”
Govt steps in over ‘Order With Me’ customs rowThe Namibian
Southern African Customs Union has remained Namibia's largest tax contributor at N$21.1 billion
“The Southern African Customs Union has remained Namibia's largest tax contributor at N$21.1 billion as at the end of March.”
Customs union gives Namibia N$21 billion boostThe Namibian
Southern African Customs Union projected receipts N$24.3 billion, up from N$21.8 billion in current fiscal year
“"The increase is supported by projected Southern African Customs Union receipts of N$24.3 billion, up from N$21.8 billion in the current fiscal year," she said.”
What you need to know about Shafudah’s budgetNew Era
Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) is experiencing weaker transfers affecting revenue-to-GDP ratio
“However, revenue-to-GDP has structurally declined from previous highs, reflecting weaker Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) transfers and softer diamond receipts.”
Operational spending dominates N$104b budget …leaving room for private sector to meet developmental needsInformanté
Southern African Customs Union experienced lowering of SACU receipts
“Amidst shrinking economic growth on the back of Namibia's persistent decline in diamond revenue and a lowering of SACU receipts.”
Shafudah tables over N$80 billion budget amidst shrinking fiscal spaceThe Namibian
Southern African Customs Union is cited as a trade relationship that could cushion impact of external conflict
“Some may argue that Namibia's diversified trade relationships, including partnerships within the European Union, the Southern African Customs Union, and its participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area would cushion the impact of any external conflict.”
Namibia Cannot Ignore Rising Tensions Between China and TaiwanThe Namibian
Southern African Customs Union drove increase in Namibia's international reserves
“During the monetary policy announcement held this week, central bank governor Ebson Uanguta said the increase was driven mainly by Southern African Customs Union receipts.”
Foreign reserves increase to N$51.9 billionPresident Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for deeper economic cooperation between Namibia and South Africa in energy, trade and regional development while opening the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission Summit in Pretoria, and urged resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary issue.
17 July 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for deeper economic cooperation between Namibia and South Africa in energy, trade and regional development while opening the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission Summit in Pretoria, and urged resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary issue.
17 July 2026 · Informanté →
Presidents Nandi-Ndaitwah and Ramaphosa are set to meet in Pretoria to co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission, with directives expected to strengthen trade, investment, border management, infrastructure and energy cooperation between the two countries. Several new agreements and memoranda of understanding are also expected to be signed.
16 July 2026 · New Era →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria on 17 July 2026, with discussions focused on trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional cooperation. The BNC serves as the highest permanent bilateral cooperation mechanism between the two countries, supported by more than 150 agreements covering political, diplomatic, economic, social, defence and security cooperation.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Chinese investors to partner with Namibia in building processing industries and creating jobs, saying the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals towards investment, industrialisation, manufacturing and technology transfer. She said Namibia's mineral deposits including uranium, diamonds, lithium, copper and rare earth minerals must be used to create greater economic benefits for Namibians.
10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called on Namibian businesses to leverage strengthened ties with China to pursue investment, manufacturing, and value-addition opportunities that can create jobs and support economic transformation. Speaking at the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing during a state visit, she urged companies to build strategic partnerships with Chinese counterparts and emphasised moving beyond raw material exports to focus on projects generating greater economic value.
9 July 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told the Namibia-China Business Forum in Beijing that Namibia seeks partnerships focused on processing plants, manufacturing, and technology transfer rather than raw material extraction. She said local beneficiation is a government priority given Namibia's mineral wealth, high unemployment, and poverty, and invited Chinese investment in processing facilities, renewable energy, agriculture, and digital infrastructure.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
China received N$3.1 billion (25.2%) of Namibia's exports in May 2026, overtaking South Africa's 18.7% share for the first time in decades. The shift coincides with President Nandi-Ndaitwah's July 2026 state visit to Beijing, which produced agreements on infrastructure, green hydrogen, agriculture, and market access.
9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia recorded its largest trade surplus with China in May at N$1.5 billion, placing China ahead of Botswana and Canada as Namibia's most favourable trading partner that month. Despite an overall trade deficit of N$3.1 billion, exports of uranium, fish, gold and diamonds helped cushion rising import costs.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
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%.
6 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has the opportunity to move beyond exporting raw minerals and oil to pursue industrial development through value addition, technological advancement and industrial diversification. Integrating mining, petroleum, desalination and renewable energy into a broader industrial strategy could generate greater economic value than raw exports alone.
5 July 2026 · The Namibian →
MP Nelson Kalangula has warned that escalating disruptions affecting Namibian cross-border truck drivers operating in South Africa could have far-reaching economic consequences for Namibia, particularly due to the country's heavy dependence on South African supply routes. Kalangula noted that some transport operators have withdrawn trucks from South African routes due to safety concerns, reflecting a growing economic risk that could disrupt supply chains and increase pressure on domestic markets.
3 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia's current account deficit narrowed to N$9.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, down from N$10.6 billion in the previous quarter, driven by lower services payments and reduced net investment income outflows. The deficit improved to 14% of quarterly GDP, while international reserves increased to N$51.8 billion by end-March and further to N$55.4 billion by end-May, supported by SACU receipts and gold monetisation.
2 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Real GDP growth recovered to 2.0% in Q1 2026 after near-stagnation in late 2025, but mining contracted 12.2% due to weaker diamond and gold output, while services expanded around 5%. The Bank of Namibia raised its repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75% in June in response to inflation reaching 4.1% in May, the highest in 14 months.
1 July 2026 · Informanté →
The Southern African Customs Union Heads of State approved a SACU Regional Innovative Funding Mechanism with an initial capitalisation of N$5 billion over the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years, directed toward development projects across member states as part of a broader commitment to regional integration and industrial development.
30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Southern African Customs Union leaders, including President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, have approved establishment of a R5 billion regional development fund to finance cross-border industrial and infrastructure projects across all five member states. The fund will be financed from the SACU Common Revenue Pool during the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years.
29 June 2026 · New Era →
SACU has been a significant economic pillar for Namibia since independence, with annual customs revenue supporting education, healthcare, and infrastructure. However, as global trade patterns shift and powerful economies pursue bilateral agreements with individual African nations, SACU members face pressure to maintain collective negotiating strength and adapt to ensure regional competitiveness beyond revenue dependency.
29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Southern African Customs Union leaders, including Namibia's president, approved a N$5 billion Regional Innovative Funding Mechanism to support development projects across member states and called for a 15-year extension of the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act beyond December 2026 to protect market access and jobs.
26 June 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has arrived in Cape Town to participate in the 9th Southern African Customs Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, where regional leaders from Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa will discuss economic integration, industrial development, trade cooperation, and the implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan (2022–2027).
26 June 2026 · Informanté →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah will participate in the 9th SACU Summit of Heads of State and Government on 26 June 2026 in Cape Town, where leaders from the five member states will discuss regional economic integration, industrial development, trade cooperation, and implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan.
26 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Bank of Namibia increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%, bringing the Prime lending rate to 10.25%, citing rising global and domestic inflationary pressures and shifting monetary policy stances among major central banks.
17 June 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirmed strong bilateral ties during talks in Johannesburg, with both leaders emphasizing shared liberation history and commitment to deepening cooperation across political, economic, and social sectors through over 150 agreements covering trade, defence, education, infrastructure, energy, and diplomacy.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg, where both leaders reaffirmed longstanding fraternal relations rooted in shared liberation history and committed to expanding cooperation across trade, defence, education, infrastructure, and energy through frameworks including SADC and SACU.
13 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian government's debt to local banks climbed to N$52.4 billion in April after a N$20.4 billion increase over the past year, with borrowing from the banking sector surging 63.6% and raising concerns about future inflationary pressures, according to economist Almandro Jansen.
3 June 2026 · The Namibian →
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 →
The Bank of Namibia's international reserves increased 13.6% in April to N$58.8 billion, supported by SACU inflows and foreign currency placements, providing an estimated import cover of 3.7 months. Private sector credit extension also accelerated, with loans to the domestic private sector reaching N$124.1 billion and growing at 4.8% annually.
1 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for urgent investment in agriculture, rural development and youth participation in farming, emphasizing that economic transformation depends on modernising agriculture while preserving cultural identity. She said the Omaludi Agricultural Festival demonstrates how agriculture and tourism can work together to create economic opportunities for local communities.
29 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said at the 2026 Omaludi Agricultural Festival that Namibia must pursue development without abandoning its cultural identity, noting that festivals promote agriculture, tourism and local economic growth while preserving traditions. She urged farmers in northern communal areas to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture through improved infrastructure, financing and market access.
27 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece criticizes Botswana's frequent import restrictions on South African fruits and vegetables as protectionism that conflicts with SACU's free-trade principles, and advocates instead for regional coordination and collaboration to support food security goals.
22 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare met with the finance minister and Namibia Revenue Agency commissioner to discuss solutions for small import entrepreneurs, known as 'Order With Me' operators, who face complaints over high and unpredictable customs duties, VAT, and courier clearance charges that are making their businesses unsustainable.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
According to the African Development Bank, Namibia's economy slowed to 2.6% in 2025 due to weaker mining exports, subdued consumer spending and softer investment, but is projected to rebound to 3.7% in 2026 supported by recovery in mining, manufacturing and electricity production. The bank cautioned that fiscal and external pressures will remain, with the fiscal deficit widening to 3.4% in 2025 from 2.6% in 2024.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →