Sona promises 24 000 jobs from N$64bn projects

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said 15 investment projects worth N$63.5 billion are underway in Namibia and are expected to create 24 195 jobs when fully operational.

Delivering her State of the Nation Address (Sona) yesterday, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the projects - among them the Osino gold project and Bannerman’s Etango uranium development - have already created 1 934 jobs in early phases, building on 13 operational projects valued at N$4.3 billion that generated 1 503 jobs during the year under review.

She said the investment drive is supported by improved macroeconomic stability, highlighted by the repayment of the N$14.3 billion Eurobond, Namibia’s largest single-day debt settlement, and foreign reserves rising to N$51.9 billion, equivalent to 3.8 months of import cover.

Economic growth is projected to improve from 1.7% in 2025 to 3.1% in 2026, although global risks remain. The government has also eased business pressures by cutting VAT refund turnaround times from 90 days to about 30 days.

To further improve the business climate, Nandi-Ndaitwah said processing times through the one-stop shop channel have been reduced from 21 days to 14 days, while legislation for the Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund is at an advanced stage.

Financial sector reforms have also doubled deposit protection from N$25 000 to N$50 000 per depositor.

Cereal production

She said the government is targeting an 80% reduction in food imports by 2030, as shown by improved production and exports.

The President said Namibia exported agricultural products worth N$2 billion, totalling about 90 000 metric tons, with 62% of the exports consisting of table grapes and 14% of tomatoes last year.

White maize production nearly doubled from 33 000 tons to 69 541 tons, covering 31% of national demand, while green scheme projects produced 6 758 tons of maize valued at N$56.9 million, wheat production from 609 hectares generated N$10.5 million.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the livestock sector remains central, supporting about 70% of the population, with 45 000 direct jobs and 12 000 technical roles, contributing 3.5% to GDP, rising to 6.2% when value addition is included.

According to her, the mining sector generated N$64.7 billion in export earnings and N$1.4 billion in royalties, while creating 580 jobs, with uranium and gold now outperforming diamonds due to global demand and pricing shifts.

She revealed that energy projects worth over N$8 billion are underway and are expected to increase electricity generation capacity from 759 megawatts to 903 megawatts, strengthening energy security.

On oil and gas, she said the government has placed the sector under the Presidency through a new upstream oil unit. Nandi-Ndaitwah said work is underway on reviewing the Field Development Plan submitted by TotalEnergies, alongside the development of a local content policy.

She called for the urgent passage of the Petroleum Amendment Bill to unlock sector growth.

Skills development

According to her, the creative industries are also gaining traction, with 59 foreign film projects and 36 local productions generating 1 240 temporary jobs, N$18.86 million in local earnings, and an estimated N$47 million in economic contribution.

Skills development is supported through N$200 000 in annual funding, in partnership with NUST.

Education, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, the government introduced fully subsidised tertiary education, backed by N$663 million, while TVET enrolment rose to 13 512 trainees.

School infrastructure expansion continues, with hundreds of classrooms, laboratories and hostels constructed, alongside improved NSSCO performance, with progression rates rising from 29.5% to 36%.

Youth empowerment programmes approved 211 projects worth N$63.1 million, expected to create 898 jobs, while over 1 000 youths received business training and 504 were supported through livelihood initiatives.

She said the Vision April 2026 initiative is pushing for improved public healthcare, supported by the recruitment of 3 471 health workers, the procurement of N$164 million in equipment, and the deployment of 36 ambulances, alongside new ICU, oncology, and maternity facilities.

The President said 14 townships were approved, 604 serviced erven delivered, and housing programmes produced 112 NHE units and 3 106 Shack Dwellers units, with further construction ongoing.

Water infrastructure expanded, with rural coverage rising from 83.5% to 84.9%, supported by projects such as the N$250 million Ohangwena II wellfield and the N$650 million Rundu water treatment plant, alongside 94 boreholes and 2 886 new connections.

Tourism generated N$183 million from national parks and N$109 million for conservancies, while fisheries contributed 4.1% to GDP, generating N$14.3 billion in exports and supporting over 21 000 jobs.

Transport infrastructure improvements included completion of the Windhoek–Hosea Kutako International Airport dual carriageway, with rail expansion projects underway and 98 youths trained in railway maintenance.

Rankings

In governance, Namibia ranked 6th in Africa on the Mo Ibrahim Index, while press freedom improved to 28th globally and 2nd in Africa. Security forces were bolstered with 1 779 police officers and 2 419 defence personnel trained.

Social spending included N$1.28 billion for veterans, support for 51 000 persons with disabilities, and N$123.9 million in food assistance for vulnerable communities.

On trade, Namibia exported its first 45 000 tons of salt to Nigeria under AfCFTA, while the visa-on-arrival system generated N$490 million from 344 000 visas issued.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the combined measures reflect a government strategy focused on investment, structural reform and social development, with job creation at the centre of efforts to drive inclusive economic growth.