Since Namibia’s independence in 1990, the country has made tremendous strides in establishing a democratic, viable nation.  Namibia has a free press, an independent judiciary, well-protected property rights, and a fairly good labor market.  The country also boasts well-developed financial markets and excellent infrastructure by regional standards. However, several formidable challenges constrain progress. Namibia remains highly affected by the HIV epidemic, high levels of income disparity, a high unemployment rate, and a struggling economy.  These challenges were aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 despite the government’s effort to mitigate its impact.