!Gawaxab’s leadership at Bank of Namibia comes to an end

By: Hertha Ekandjo

The Bank of Namibia has officially announced the departure of its Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab, effective 31 December 2025.

!Gawaxab, who served as the sixth governor of the central bank, has led the institution for over five and a half years following his appointment on 1 June 2020.

On the macroeconomic front, the Bank noted that Namibia benefited from a disciplined and credible monetary policy stance under his leadership. Inflation remained well contained, averaging 3.6 percent in the first eight months of 2025, down from 4.6 percent over the same period in 2024.

During the tightening cycle, the Bank raised the repo rate by a cumulative 400 basis points between February 2022 and June 2023. The consistent application of monetary policy significantly contributed to moderating inflation, creating space for gradual easing this year to support the domestic economy.

According to the Bank, !Gawaxab also played a central role in safeguarding Namibia’s financial credibility on the global stage. In October 2025, he led the Bank’s support to the Government in successfully redeeming its USD 750 million Eurobond in full and on time.

“This achievement sent a powerful signal to markets and investors that Namibia honours its commitments transparently and reliably, thereby strengthening sovereign credibility and investor confidence,” the Bank stated.