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.

A local economist, Salomo Hei, says despite education receiving the lion's share of the budget over the years, Namibia is unable to reap the dividends from this investment.

Hei was giving a presentation ahead of the national budget that will be tabled this week.

"From 1990 to date, for every one dollar that GRN has spent, 18 cents of that went to education. The point is that we are spending so much on education and sectors like health, but for one reason or another, the service delivery has not been desirable. It has not met the expectations, and that's quite worrying."

The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Frans Kapofi has urged his staff to use the available resources wisely as the budget is limited.

Kapofi made the call when he addressed the staff of the Ministry in Windhoek.