At independence Namibia inherited a widespread but highly regressive and discriminatory old age pension system. Despite its shortcomings, the system nevertheless seems to have played a significant role in enhancing food security among the most economically marginalized. The government intends to equalize pension payments over a number of years, and it seems likely that these payments will make an important contribution to alleviating long-run poverty and reducing income disparities. Equalization will be expensive, however, and could draw money from other welfare programmes, so caution is required. Few other African countries are wealthy enough to launch similar schemes, but Botswana could be an exception.