Chamwe Kaira
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has committed just over N$2.1 billion in development loans to the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) for the year ended 31 March.
The funding forms part of DBSA’s ‘Rest of Africa’ portfolio, which recorded N$6.5 billion in loan commitments across several countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Tanzania and Senegal.
Namibia’s allocation highlights DBSA’s support for regional integration and infrastructure development within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
DBSA funding targets key sectors such as water, energy, transport, ICT and social infrastructure.
In July 2024, TransNamib confirmed it had met all conditions to access N$2.6 billion secured from DBN and DBSA. The financing will help the company address its locomotive capacity challenges.
Namibia also benefits from the Climate Finance Facility (CFF), a DBSA lending programme designed to mobilise private sector investment in low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The facility uses blended finance and credit enhancement to reduce risks in renewable energy and climate projects. Namibia, alongside South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho, is a priority market, with Namibia receiving just over N$50 million.
DBSA said Namibia is among 20 African countries where it has active exposure through loans and equity investments.
The projects cover water and sanitation, energy, transport, ICT and social infrastructure.
Overall, DBSA approved N$26.5 billion for SADC projects in the 2025 financial year.
These align with SADC’s vision 2050 and infrastructure vision 2027, which emphasise cost-effective cross-border projects to drive trade and industrial growth.
South Africa’s finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, praised the bank’s role.
“The DBSA continues to play a catalytic role in unlocking infrastructure-led economic development, investing in high-impact projects that support inclusive growth and long-term development across the region,” he said.
DBSA chief executive officer Boitumelo Mosako said the bank delivered strong results, reaching N$91.3 billion in infrastructure development support during the year.
Total disbursements amounted to N$17.5 billion, above the N$14.5 billion target.
“Our sustained profitability enabled the bank to declare a dividend to our shareholder, an important milestone and a reflection of its financial strength and discipline,” Mosako said.
The bank highlighted Africa’s infrastructure funding gap of US$100 billion. It estimates South Africa alone will require between N$4.8 trillion and N$6.2 trillion for transport, water and sanitation, basic education and technical and vocational education and training between 2022 and 2030.
DBSA continues to invest in bridges, roads, railways, airports, ports and other critical infrastructure.
“Our support for the Lobito Corridor marks a key milestone. It drives economic growth and job creation in Angola and the DRC. The project aligns goals for sustainable development and regional cooperation. During the year, the Bank approved up to US$200 million in funding for the Lobito Corridor Railway Project,” Mosako said.
