Local economist Theo Klein says 60% of the sectors that make up the country's economy have not yet recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Klein made the remarks during a presentation on the economic landscape of Namibia in Windhoek.

Klein says wholesale and retail, construction, financial services, and manufacturing are just some of the sectors struggling to make it back to pre-pandemic levels. 

However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for other industries.

"Some of the sectors that brought about our economic recovery include mining, fishing, the ICT sector, agriculture, the health sector, and utilities like electricity and water."

Klein says it is difficult for economists at this stage to predict exactly what the future holds.

"It's very uncertain to know what economic policies the presidential candidates stand for at the moment. Only those within Swapo at the Congress know what the policies are that they support and stand for. So, for us, as economists, it's very uncertain to say whether green hydrogen will still be supported by the new president. Will the Harambee Prosperity Plan still be supported by the new president? We don't know."

With a high unemployment rate among the youth in Namibia, questions often arise regarding the possibility of social unrest.

However, Klein says it's highly unlikely.

"We ascribe a very low probability to that. Namibians are known to be passive; we rather complain amongst each other, we rather steal from each other either through crime or corruption instead of speaking out about the problems and trying to bring concrete solutions. Even though we know the youth are frustrated, we don't see the youth finally organizing themselves into a movement."