Governments in the Southern Africa region have been urged to strengthen tobacco taxation as a tool to reduce its use and generate revenue for health and social services.

This comes as countries face pressure on public finances, rising non-communicable diseases, and declining external assistance.

The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has revealed that it has detected 316 cases of fraudulent claims or forged documents over the past four years, worth a combined N$1 billion.

Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah has tabled a budget of N$106.3 billion for the 2025-2026 financial year, the maiden budget of the new administration of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. 

The budget, themed "Beyond 35, for a Prosperous Future", marks an increase of 22.6% from the previous year.