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 Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration, Natangwe Ithete, has emphasised the necessity of revising and modernising the national railway system in a way that stimulates growth and development.

Ithete said this during a visit by the members of the standing committee to ||Kharas Governor Aletha Frederick.

The standing committee is currently conducting an oversight visit to assess the management of railway services, infrastructure, and facilities in the southern region.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration wants to see TransNamib transformed to offer services par excellence and have an integrated master plan to maximise return on investment.

 
The Committee was in the Otjozondjupa Region, where it familiarised itself with the dilapidated structures belonging to the parastatal.

The oversight visit follows recommendations to TransNamib by the Ministry of Works and Transport and stakeholders to introduce a master plan integrating air, road, rail, and maritime transportation modes.