Author: Maihapa Ndjavera (Maihapa Ndjavera )

Namibia finds itself in a precarious situation, where public debt has reached maximum levels, as government has been unsuccessful in abiding by its targets for public debt. 

President Hage Geingob yesterday cautioned a visiting European Union delegation that conflict benefits no one. 

While remaining committed to supporting the domestic market by investing in viable corporate bonds when they become available, the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has lamented the number of local investment options, noting the Namibian market is still shallow, with limited investment products and issuers. 

Namibia’s trade activities continued to increase between January 2022 to November 2022 when compared to the same period of 2021.

TransNamib, the national rail provider, has confirmed that limited locomotive capacity restricts it from introducing regular passenger service. This is according to TransNamib spokesperson Abigail Raubenheimer. 

The Tsumeb community is still advised to use boiled water after the town’s water supply was recently deemed unfit for human consumption, based on a microbiological quality assessment. 

The country’s medical aid industry reported a net deficit for the third quarter of 2022, yet remained well capitalised as it held a high percentage of free assets as at 30 September 2022. Additionally, the industry’s reserves level exceeded the minimum prudential reserves level requirement of 25% and is thus deemed to be financially sound.

Namibia is part of several emerging markets and developing economies that activated escape clauses, modified fiscal rule limits and suspended fiscal rules in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.