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.

Residents of Oshakati can breathe a sigh of relief as there will be no tariff increase for this financial year.

The announcement was made during the tabling of the council's 2023–2024 budget, amounting to N$214 million.

The council says it took note of the current global and local economic situation in the town.

Against this background, the council, he says, decided not to effect any tariff increase on water, sewerage, or refuse removal.

The Councillor of Rundu Rural Constituency in the Kavango East Region, Paulus Mbangu, has suggested that government implement a basic income grant that will cater to every unemployed Namibian and so combat poverty and unemployment in the country.

In his contribution to the national budget for 2023/24 in the National Council, Mbangu emphasized, that the grant would prove crucial to tackling pressing socio-economic issues.

The Minister Information and Communication Technology (MICT), Dr. Peya Mushelenga, has tabled an amount of more than N$650 million for consideration in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

In his motivation, Dr. Mushelenga emphasized the need to coordinate and formulate strategies that will propel Namibians into an informed society.

The largest share of this allocation of more than N$484 million will go to the audiovisual media and regional offices.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services wants to ensure a long-term solution to the shortage of medical supplies at government central medical stores.

The ministry will also prioritize infrastructure development and the provision of general services.

The ministry is allocated a budget of N$9.6 billion for the 2023/2024 financial year.

Dr. Kalumbi Shangula said Namibia experienced subdued levels of service this year, owing to a lack of long-term contracts for the procurement and supply of pharmaceuticals.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has tabled the ministry's vote of over N$932.7 million in the National Assembly for consideration. 

In her motivation speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the budget is guided by Vision 2030, NDP5, Harambee Prosperity Plan and the Swapo Party Manifesto.

In line with her ministry's mandate of international diplomacy, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed condolences to those who died from the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkiye and Cyclone Freddy, wishing survivors a speedy recovery. 

Most parliamentarians in the National Assembly have welcomed this year's budget allocations to various ministries and departments, expressing hope for improved livelihoods for the populace through conditional income grants.

They, however, want to see accountability and the curbing of corruption.

Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance at NUST, Teresia Kaulihowa, questioned whether the current budget allocation will be sufficient to improve and expand Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Kaulihowa said this at a post-2023/2024 budget analysis and advocacy workshop for members of Parliament in Windhoek. 

TVET system is being improved through a number of measures to reduce youth unemployment and promote economic development.