Half of working Namibians borrow to buy food, survey reveals
via The Namibian5 min read
A recent Namibia Statistics Agency Financial Inclusion Survey indicates that 51.3% of Namibia's working population borrows money to purchase food. The survey found that 546,000 working Namibians lack disposable income and rely on debt for basic needs, with 295,000 of these earning less than N$2,000 monthly. Borrowing for education and daily transport also features prominently. NSA statistician general Alex Shimuafeni noted an increase in borrowing from 42.1% in 2017 to 49% in 2025. Economists highlight this trend as a sign of deeper economic issues, suggesting structural failures rather than temporary hardship. Economist Dirk Haarmann stated that borrowing for recurring costs like food, which does not generate future income, points to an economy failing to provide sufficient income for basic needs. Economist Claudia Haarmann warned that this situation has led to the growth of an industry profiting from people's desperation, creating a cycle of debt. Economist Jesaya Hano-Oshike added that borrowing for food indicates exhausted financial safety nets and structural weaknesses in the labor market, emphasizing that credit should foster investment, not merely survival. He suggested that addressing the crisis requires more than temporary relief, advocating for government and private sector collaboration to remove investment barriers and diversify the economy. While the Basic Income Grant Coalition of Namibia proposes a universal income grant of N$500 monthly, Hano-Oshike believes s
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