THE Namibian economy is projected to grow by between 2% and 3% during 1999 and overturning a dismal 1% growth recorded last year, Old Mutual Namibia economists predict. Old Mutual’s forecast far outstrips the 0,7% growth predicted for South Africa during the same period. Old Mutual’s investment manager Floris Bergh attributes the optimism for Namibian growth to a combination of factors: an increase in fish quotas, a weak recovery in the South African economy, lower interest rates, promised tax reductions from Finance Minister Nangolo Mbumba as well as the demutualisation of Old Mutual which is envisaged to provide a windfall to its 95000 policy holders.