NAMFISA reviews strategy

Financial institutions regulator, NAMFISA said it plans to have a modernised regulatory and supervisory framework in place within the next three years. The new laws will provide the regulator with strong enforcement powers against institutions that are found to contravene these laws.
Chairman of the NAMFISA board, Rick Kukuri said the revised strategy sets out the strategic objectives of the authority over the next five years and forms the basis of NAMFISA’s annual planning.
The new legislative base will also give the regulator the ability to deploy its limited resources towards the most vulnerable areas in the financial system. NAMFISA will further direct its attention to building the required human capacity which will enable it to deliver on its mandate effectively.
CEO Phillip Shiimi said given the importance of regulatory reform, “we placed the review of the financial institutions and markets bill at the top of our priorities. The financial institutions and market bill will provide us with a modern, flexible regulatory framework in the years to come.”
According to NAMFISA’s 2011 annual report, twenty new micro-lenders were licensed last year while two licenses were cancelled. The micro-lending sector now has 347 registered micro lenders, with total loans extended increasing by 19% to N$1.1 billion.
In the period under review, Investment management companies had N$86 billion of Namibia’s savings under management compared to N$84 billion in the previous period of which 53% was invested locally, while unit trust companies managed N$26 billion compared to N$25 billion in the previous period, 49% of which was is invested locally.
Long term insurers raised a total of N$4.5 billion in premiums in 2010 with total accumulated assets reported at N$25 billion compared to N$22 billion in 2009 against policy holders liabilities of N$22 billion compared to N$20 billion in 2009.
On the other hand, short term insurers reported an increase of 21% in assets to N$2.36 billion, receiving gross premiums of N$2.03 billion up from from N$1.76 billion in 2009. A total of N$162 million was paid in premiums for insurance placed outside the country, the report indicates.
Furthermore, the report shows that total pension funds reached N$63.9 billion from N$55.8 billion during 2009 while the medical aid fund, which covered 152 328 beneficiaries compared to 148 040 in 2009, received contributions amounting to N$1.5 billion up from N$1.39 billion received in 2009.