SHORT NEWS: !Gawaxab to step down December

The Bank of Namibia has announced that Governor Dr Johannes !Gawaxab will step down on 31 December 2025, ending a five-and-a-half-year tenure marked by major reforms and crisis-era leadership. Appointed in June 2020, he steered the Bank through the COVID-19 pandemic, rolling out interest rate cuts, regulatory relief and liquidity support that softened the economic shock. His leadership also delivered key governance reforms under the Banking Institutions Act of 2023, strengthened local oversight in the banking sector, and kept inflation stable at an average of 3.6% this year. He played a central role in Namibia’s successful redemption of the US$750 million Eurobond in October, in advancing financial inclusion, and in driving major digital upgrades, including the Fast Payment System and the growth of the Welwitschia Fund to about N$479 million by September 2025. The Board says he leaves behind a stronger, more resilient central bank and thanked him for his service.