The National Council has approved several budget votes for the 2026/2027 financial year during today’s session.
Allocations include the Presidency, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, and the National Planning Commission.
The Chairperson of the National Council has urged members of parliament to carefully scrutinise the appropriation bill to ensure that public resources advance the objectives of improving the life of citizens.
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.
Railway Network Development has been allocated over N$952 million, the largest share of the Transport Vote from a total budget exceeding N$2 billion.
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.
Deputy Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs (MoDVA), Charles Mubita, motivated a N$1.52 billion budget for the vote of Veteran Affairs for the 2026-2027 financial year.
Dr Mubita said this budget will be aimed at improving the welfare of liberation struggle veterans and preserving Namibia's history.
The Finance Ministry has tabled a N$12.8 billion operational budget for the 2026-2027 financial year.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah, in tabling her ministry's budget, stated that it aims at sustaining core government functions and service delivery.
Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila motivated a budget allocation of over N$410 million for the National Assembly and N$134 million for the National Council for the 2026-27 financial years.
The Independent Patriots for Change has cautioned against a proposal by Deputy Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Charles Mubita to raise monthly allowances for liberation struggle veterans from two thousand two hundred dollars to five thousand, calling for fiscal responsibility and equity.
The president of the United Democratic Fund (UDF), Hendrik Gaobaeb, raised concerns around the ongoing dispute between the Kunene Regional Council and the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, highlighting wasteful use of public funds on private lawyers.
