The Minister of Finance, Erica Shafudah, has tabled the Income Tax Amendment Bill to establish the Tax Court to adjudicate income tax and value-added tax appeals.

The government has committed to reducing the fiscal deficit from 5.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 2026/27 financial year to 3.3% by 2028/29. 

The country's fiscal position is currently said to be weak with limited fiscal buffers, failing revenues and high spending needs. 

Parliamentarians in the National Council applauded the Ministry of Finance for a well-crafted budget amid tough global and domestic conditions, as they contributed to the Ministry of Finance's vote at the committee stage.

Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah has ruled out any immediate increase to the national budget, stating that the government will only review allocations once there is clearer evidence of economic growth.

The National Assembly has approved an amount of about N$12.9 billion to be allocated to the Ministry of Finance.

Members of Parliament shared their views and suggestions on the budget prior to the approval of the vote.

Swapo Party MP Sharonice Busch says the national budget must be assessed not only by what it allocates but also by whether it changes the economic structure of the country in a meaningful and durable way. 

Discussions on the Appropriation Bill commenced today, with MPs stating that more should be put towards development projects rather than operational costs, which now exceed N$80 billion, with only N$3,6 billion allocated towards development expenditure.

Finance Minister Erica Shafudah will table the budget tomorrow in the National Assembly.
 
The national budget outlines key policy directions, spending priorities, and economic interventions that will directly impact households, businesses, and public institutions.
 

Minister of Finance Erica Shafudah is expected to table the 2026/27 Appropriation Bill in Parliament tomorrow.

To reflect on this, local economist Omu Kakujaha analysed possible areas of focus and outlined critical sectors that could form part of this year's budget.

Namibia is facing a growing public debt with levels projected to exceed N$168 billion, surpassing 70% of its Gross Domestic Product.