Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Person

Vincent Shimutwikeni

Also known as: Shimutwikeni · Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni · Selma Shimutwikeni

Mining & Energy

Namibia hosts energy conference ahead of first oil production

The News

Namibia will host the 8th Namibia International Energy Conference in April 2026, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expected to open the event. The conference theme, "The Road to First Oil & Beyond: Partnership, Investment, Growth," will focus on turning offshore oil discoveries in the Orange Basin into economic value for Namibians and supporting broader economic development across multiple sectors.

10 April 2026 · New Era →

Friday 10 April

  1. Namibia hosts energy conference ahead of first oil production

    Namibia will host the 8th Namibia International Energy Conference in April 2026, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expected to open the event. The conference theme, "The Road to First Oil & Beyond: Partnership, Investment, Growth," will focus on turning offshore oil discoveries in the Orange Basin into economic value for Namibians and supporting broader economic development across multiple sectors.

    10 April 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 8 April

  1. Pension death benefits prioritize dependants, not nomination wishes

    Retirement fund trustees are legally required to distribute death benefits based on financial dependence rather than nomination forms or wills, prioritizing those who relied on the deceased member for support. This approach sometimes conflicts with family expectations but protects vulnerable individuals by ensuring fair distribution under the law.

    8 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Namfisa exempts lump-sum pension payouts from new regulations

    The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has advised the finance minister to exempt a clause in the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (Fima) that would have forced all retirement fund members to annuitise their benefits. Workers will continue to receive one-third of their retirement benefits tax-free as a lump sum, though the government's long-term policy aims to move Namibia toward full annuities in line with International Labour Organisation standards.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 22 March

  1. 2026/27 Budget emphasises fiscal stability for pensioners

    Namibia's 2026/27 budget prioritises fiscal consolidation and prudence, with projected deficit narrowing and controlled inflation that aim to sustain the economic environment for pensioners, though the budget contains no explicit pension reforms and relies on system stability rather than direct intervention.

    22 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 March

  1. 2026/27 Budget shapes pension sustainability through fiscal stability

    Minister Ericah Shafudah's 2026/27 budget prioritises fiscal consolidation to narrow the deficit from 6.6% to 5.5% of GDP, which has implications for pensioners through inflation control (projected at 3.5%), interest rates set at 6.5%, and improved payment systems for benefits. The budget contains no explicit changes to pension taxation or retirement fund reforms, suggesting policy continuity but leaving structural issues like coverage and adequacy for future intervention.

    20 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 19 March

  1. Budget shapes pensioner welfare through fiscal stability, not direct support

    An opinion piece argues that the 2026/27 national budget, though not explicitly addressing pensioners, indirectly supports their interests through fiscal consolidation, controlled inflation (projected at 3.5%), lower interest rates, and improved payment systems. The author notes the budget contains no direct pension reforms, suggesting policy continuity rather than structural changes to address coverage and adequacy issues.

    19 March 2026 · New Era →

Wednesday 11 March

  1. Namibia's in-house legal leaders recognized at inaugural GC Powerlist event

    The Legal 500 and law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr hosted the first GC Powerlist: Namibia 2026 ceremony, honouring over 50 general counsel and in-house legal professionals for their role in shaping corporate governance and navigating complex regulatory frameworks across finance, mining, energy, and other sectors.

    11 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. President hosts De Beers, political parties, sports champions

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with multiple delegations at State House over the past week, including a De Beers delegation led by CEO Al Cook, the PDM party led by McHenry Venaani, NEFF and Nudo delegations, the Brave Gladiators after their 2025 COSAFA Women's Championship victory, and Namibia International Energy Conference founder Selma Shimutwikeni.

    11 March 2026 · Namibian Sun →

Friday 27 February

  1. President calls on private sector to invest in energy

    President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged the private sector to take a stronger role in developing Namibia's energy industry, saying energy is essential to tackling unemployment and boosting economic growth. She noted that the government views the private sector as a critical partner in developing oil, gas and renewable energy sectors.

    27 February 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 1 February

  1. Balancing village obligations with long-term retirement planning

    Village contributions remain a cultural obligation for many Namibians, but these emotional, immediate demands often take priority over retirement planning. The article argues that both can coexist through disciplined budgeting, honest family communication, and treating village contributions as planned expenses rather than emergencies.

    1 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Namibia Minute