The National Council approved a budget of over N$8 billion for the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises.

Members of Parliament, however, expressed concern about banking fees, acknowledging the complexity of legal processes but urging the government to prioritise citizen protection from alleged unfair practices within commercial banks.

The National Council has approved a budget of over N$2 billion for the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.

Some MPs, however, urged the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Public Service Commission and the Secretary of the Cabinet, to promptly explore the activation of the Directorate of Integration Development within regional councils.

The Zambezi Regional Council is ready to host the 34th Independence Celebration for the first time since independence.

Zambezi Governor, Alufea Sampofu, says all logistics have been put in place, and the established Regional Preparatory Committee is hard at work to ensure that come March 21st, it's all systems go.

The Zambezi Regional Council is ready to host about 10,000 people at the Katima Mulilo Sports Complex, and Sampofu is looking forward to hosting the guests.

The !Nami#Nus Constituency Councillor Susan Ndjaleka has commended the government for allocating N$141 million in the 2024/25 national budget for bulk services and infrastructure development to Luderitz and Aus. 

Ndjaleka remarked on this at the recent launch of the annual Luderitz Crayfish Festival. 

!Nami#nus Councillor says the budget allocation is driven by the anticipation of the high influx of people triggered by the development of green hydrogen as well as the oil and gas industry at Luderitz. 

Finance and Public Enterprises Minister Iipumbu Shiimi tabled a N$100.1 billion national budget in the National Assembly this afternoon.

This is the first time Namibia's national budget exceeds the N$100 billion mark.

Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi tabled his fifth full budget under the theme, 'Continuing the Legacy of His Excellency, President Hage G. Geingob, by Caring for the Namibian Child'.

The Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Frans Kapofi, has explained that the Namibian government's commitment to disburse funding for veterans' projects is hampered by the constraints imposed by limited resources.

He was addressing the challenges impeding the progress of project funding in response to questions from Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) MP Elma Dienda during a parliamentary session.

Kapofi recalled the recent parliamentary approval of the budget, which included provisions to fund projects for veterans.

A strong parliament budget office is needed to analyse and take action with regards to debt strategy as well as budget monitoring.

This is contained in a presentation by Macroeconomic Expert Dr. Omu Kakujaha-Matundu during the 2023–2024 Mid-Year Budget Analysis and Advocacy meeting for MPs.

Dr. Kakujaha-Matundu explained that the aim is to capacitate MPs to hold ministries accountable for failing to execute their duties as per the allocated budgets.

The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, is on a visit to the Zambezi Region to consult with the regional council leadership and other stakeholders to seek their input on next year's national budget.

Shiimi said consultations with stakeholders on the national budget are crucial for the planning process.

Rundu Rural Constituency Councillor Paulus Mbangu has denounced the budget allocations to the two Kavango regions this year.

Speaking in the National Council, Mbangu says the two Kavango Regions were identified as 'crisis regions, yet they were provided with few resources.

This Mbangu state hampers the execution of set agendas, particularly to address poverty in the two Kavango Regions.

He also questioned the central government's commitment to addressing poverty when all regions lack sufficient resources.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia, ECN says political parties in parliament are still failing to account for money allocated to them by the state.

Parliamentarian Inna Hengari is calling on the ECN to be firmer as she claims some parties are using these funds to dish out cash loans.

The Electoral Commission presented challenges and success stories to members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Legal Affairs at Swakopmund.