Outgoing Bank of Namibia Governor Johannes ǃGawaxab said the central bank is strong, stable, and well positioned for the future, following five years of turbulence, reform, and transformation. Reflecting on his tenure, !Gawaxab said his time in office, which began in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, tested the country’s financial system in...
The total number of active SIM cards in Namibia increased by 3% between July and September 2025, indicating renewed growth after a stable period in the second quarter. The increase was mainly driven by prepaid SIM cards, which rose by 3%. Postpaid subscriptions grew more slowly, increasing by only 1%. Mobile internet use also continued...
Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Control Board (ECB), Robert Kahimise, on Friday said NamPower is owed a total of N$912 million by various entities across the country. Kahimise made the announcement during a media briefing, where he outlined the growing debt owed to the national power utility. According to the ECB, local authorities and...
Works and transport minister, Veikko Nekundi, has urged public passenger carrier permit holders who have raised taxi fares without following legal procedures to immediately rectify the matter and cease the unlawful practice. In a stern statement on Friday, the minister cautioned the permit holders to cease unauthorised fare increases as these are regulated by the...
The Bank of Namibia says the country has made steady progress in strengthening its fight against money laundering and financial crime. Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Bryan Eiseb, last week announced that Namibia’s performance has improved in the 2025 Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Risk Index. According to the index, Namibia’s...
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Africa’s leading multilateral financial institution, on Saturday marked a historic milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Egypt’s New Capital, which will also be the home of the bank’s new global headquarters. The brand new facilities are scheduled for completion in early 2029. Situated in...
Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) has made strong progress in improving its supervision of the non-bank financial sector, as the organisation continues to respond to a fast-changing financial environment. This is according to its 2025 annual report. Board chairperson Hettie Garbers-Kirsten said NAMFISA has refined its Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) Framework to better identify and...
The Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association Ltd (NASRIA Ltd) has strengthened its role as a major player in the country’s financial and insurance sector after a year marked by growth and important changes. Managing director John Uusiku said NASRIA remains committed to offering new and innovative insurance products that meet Namibia’s changing risk environment. According...
Air travel growth in Africa is projected to hit 6% in 2026, exceeding the global average anticipated at 4.9%, slightly above the 5.2% expected this year. However, despite outshining the rest of the world in terms of air travel growth, the African aviation industry’s profit margins of 1.3% still lack the lustre as African airlines...
Out of total US$1.2 billion of global aviation industry funds blocked by governments, 93% of the capital is trapped in Africa and Middle East (AME) countries. In fact, 10 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia account for 89% of the total blocked funds, amounting to US$1.08 billion. The AME region total blocked...