I am 63 years old now, and I've spent my whole life working hard to provide for my family. I grew up in a small village in northern Namibia, and I moved to Windhoek in search of work.
My first job was as a domestic worker for a family in Windhoek. I didn't earn much, but I was grateful to have an income at all. Most of my money went toward feeding my children and supporting my parents and siblings back home, so saving was never easy for me.
After several years as a domestic worker, I found a job as a cleaner at a private company, and I stayed there for about 18 years before I retired. During those working years, I tried to save what I could. I had a small savings account, and I also joined an informal savings group with other women in my community. Even with all that effort, my savings were never substantial. If there's one thing I regret, it's not saving more for retirement. Back then, retirement felt so far away, like something that would never really come.
Today, I receive a monthly government old-age pension of about N$1,600. It helps, but it's not enough to cover everything I need: food, electricity, water, transport, and my medications. Sometimes, when my grandchildren come to stay with me, I contribute what I can to the household expenses too.
I estimate that I need about N$3,500 to N$4,000 a month to live comfortably. Since my pension doesn't stretch that far, I rely on support from my adult children. I also earn a little extra by selling homemade food and baked goods whenever I get the chance.
Despite all these challenges, I'm grateful that I can still support myself, even if only to some extent. Looking back, I believe people should start saving for retirement as early as they can, even if it's just a small amount each month. Don't wait, the way I did.
My greatest wish is for older people here in Namibia to have enough income in retirement to live with dignity, without having to depend entirely on their children. To me, a comfortable retirement simply means being able to buy food, pay my bills, and take care of my health without constantly worrying about running out of money before the month ends.