An amount of N$1,600 might be someone's savings, but for 77-year-old Frans Geiseb, from Omatako Village in Otjozondjupa Region, the monthly old-age pension grant is more than a personal lifeline.

It is the only source of income sustaining a household of about 25 family members.

Talks between President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Swanu of Namibia Party focused on several national issues, including the N$100 increase in the old age pension announced in the recent national budget, during today's courtesy meeting at State House.

The Namibian government spends around N$7 billion yearly on social grants, with old-age pensions accounting for nearly half of the total. 

Michael Humavindu, the Executive Director in the Ministry of Finance, cautions that raising the pension to a mere N$2,000 could push the bill close to N$9 billion.