Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah outlines measures to diversify revenue, support businesses and strengthen oversight of public funds.
Namibia is stepping up efforts to stimulate sustainable economic growth, broaden its revenue base and strengthen public financial management as the government seeks to address sluggish economic expansion, high unemployment and mounting fiscal pressures.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah outlined the measures in a response to questions raised by Member of Parliament Mwashindange in the National Assembly on 8 October 2026. She said the government’s strategy, anchored in the Sixth National Development Plan, prioritises investment in essential infrastructure, including energy, water, transport and logistics while maintaining fiscal sustainability.
The government is also positioning the economy to benefit from emerging industries such as oil and gas, green hydrogen and renewable energy, while supporting agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and services as potential drivers of employment and revenue diversification. Shafudah said reforms would also focus on improving the business environment, strengthening public-private partnerships, reforming state-owned enterprises and linking budget allocations to measurable development outcomes.
To improve domestic revenue collection, the Ministry of Finance is working with the Namibia Revenue Agency to strengthen tax compliance, expand the tax register and introduce integrated electronic systems for registration, filing and payments. The measures are intended to improve collection efficiency, identify non-compliant taxpayers and combat tax evasion and avoidance without placing unnecessary pressure on compliant taxpayers.
Shafudah said the government aims to broaden the tax base rather than simply increase tax rates, acknowledging concerns about the impact of taxation on small businesses and working households. Measures include raising the personal income tax threshold and considering simplified tax arrangements for small and micro enterprises. The government is also reviewing tax incentives, phasing out the Export Processing Zone regime in favour of a more targeted framework that includes Special Economic Zones, while strengthening parliamentary oversight and transparency in the use of public funds.
