Career biography

Lydia Nalishe Nghaamwa is a distinguished public international and trade law expert serving as Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) Secretariat in Windhoek, Namibia. SACU, the world’s oldest functioning customs union established in 1910, unites Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa under a common external tariff, free intra-regional trade and a shared revenue pool that supports equitable revenue distribution and regional development.

As Head of SACU’s Legal Unit, Lydia provides strategic counsel that safeguards the Union’s integrity amid global trade uncertainty. She ensures SACU agreements remain WTO-compliant and adaptable, fostering predictable trading environments that strengthen resilience, equitable revenue sharing and economic stability. Her role extends beyond interpretation — she anticipates risks, upholds compliance with international trade law and develops frameworks that protect SACU’s revenue-sharing mechanism while enabling Member States to seize new opportunities. Balancing precision with foresight, Lydia guides negotiations with third parties, reinforces trust among Member States and ensures SACU’s credibility in a volatile global landscape.

Her mandate covers interpretation and implementation of the SACU Agreement, 2002 (as amended in 2013), delivery of legal opinions, and drafting of instruments, annexes, agreements and MoUs. She advises on trade negotiations, facilitation, revenue management, procurement and governance, while also interpreting internal policies. As Vice-Chairperson of the Editorial Committee, Lydia contributes to SACU’s communications and documentation, strengthening institutional integrity.

With over 15 years of experience in high-impact legal roles, Lydia previously served as Corporate Legal Advisor at Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower), specialising in energy law, chairing the Second Procurement Committee and managing contracts to minimise legal risks. At the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, she contributed to the drafting of legislation (including the Namibia Investment Promotion Bill), supported WTO dispute resolution and participated in SACU/SADC negotiations. Earlier, as Senior Legal Officer at the Office of the Attorney-General, she negotiated bilateral agreements (for example, the MoU with Nigeria for an oil refinery) and represented Namibia in regional forums. Her international exposure includes working as an associate at Edwin Coe LLP in London through the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) programme.

Academically, Lydia holds a Master of Business Administration (with Merit) from Imperial College Business School, London; an MSc in Management Practice (Trade Law 2 and Policy) from the University of Cape Town; and LLB and B Juris degrees from the University of Namibia. Her key achievements include institutional strengthening, drafting trade-liberalising instruments (including the SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement Rules of Procedure), and overseeing complex negotiations.

She has served on the Board of Directors of New Era Publication Corporation, leading national news dissemination, and as Chairperson of Emancipate (Pty) Ltd, where she led community projects. She currently serves as an alternate Board Member on the NORED Electricity (Pty) Ltd board, providing governance and strategic legal oversight.

Beyond professional excellence, Lydia leads with stewardship and a strong sense of social impact. In her personal capacity, she provides mentorship and financial assistance to support education for the less privileged. Her leadership strengthens SACU’s legal foundation, promotes economic integration and positions the Union as a model for African co-operation in uncertain times, while championing inclusive development.