The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA), in consultation with the Ministry of Trade and Industrialization, has extended its annual duty penalty waiver.

Minister Lucia Iipumbu, during her ministerial statement in the National Assembly, announced that the programme that was supposed to end on March 31 will be extended by three more months to June 30.

This programme applies to eligible registered business entities that have accumulated penalties due to not paying their annual duties on time.

Despite the relatively low number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the country, Namibia ranks 11th globally in terms of TB incidence and per capita expenditure on TB treatment. 

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, emphasised that the emergence of multidrug-resistant TB poses a significant health challenge for the country. 

Dr. Shangula made these remarks during the discussion of the Appropriation Bill at the committee stage.

The Resettlement Policy should aim to improve the lives of landless or disadvantaged Namibians and be inclusive, irrespective of people's economic and social status.

These were the sentiments of the Popular Democratic Movement's (PDM) Diederik Vries in his contribution to the National Resettlement Policy under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform.

The general eligibility criteria for potential beneficiaries of resettlement is the requirement to have resource ownership and access to capital.

The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, highlighted the country's active participation in the open budget survey since 2010, led by the International Budget Partnership. 

He emphasised that Namibia's participation aims to ensure transparency in budgeting processes.

He was responding to concerns raised by members of Parliament regarding fiscal transparency and public involvement.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi, will lead a delegation of Members of Parliament to the 148th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 23 to 27, 2024, with a focus on international cooperation, peacebuilding, and addressing pressing global challenges. 

Professor Katjivivi will deliver a statement during the General Debate at the Assembly under the theme "Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding".

Members of Parliament, while expressing appreciation for the 2024–25 budget, have also raised concerns about underfunding in sectors such as agriculture and health. 

They have urged the Ministry of Finance to consider augmenting allocations in these areas.

UDF's MP Apius Auchab voiced satisfaction with the budget but had reservations about the size of the deficit and its potential implications for increasing national debt. 

He was seeking reassurance from the minister regarding the management of this deficit and its impact on the country's indebtedness.

The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade held a consultation on Consumer Protection and Consumer Education to promote and create awareness about consumers' rights and high-quality services.

Members of Parliament have commended the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, for his efforts in presenting a substantial increment in this year's national budget. 

However, some are concerned about the inadequacy of the allocated funds for old-age grants and the absence of dedicated financial provisions and employment opportunities.

In her contribution to the Appropriation Bill, PDM's Elma Dienda emphasised the impact of the late president Hage Geingob's vision, which brought hope to senior citizens dependent on the old age grant for survival. 

Swapo Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Hamunyera Hambyuka, moved a motion without notice urging for consideration and approval of Gerson Tjihenuna and Pius Iikwambi as members of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, nominated by the President under Section 6 of the Electoral Act for a five-year term. 

The motion seeks to ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency in election processes. 

Hambyuka emphasised the importance of approving the nominated members, highlighting their relevant experience outlined in their curriculum vitae.

Members of Parliament in the National Assembly have called on the government to allocate ample resources to the education sector to foster excellence on par with private schools.

Members in this regard also expressed concern about the revised curriculum, noting its failure to accommodate everyone.

PDM's Charmaine Tjirare advocated for the removal of the new curriculum, urging the government to reconsider previous successful approaches that yielded positive results for students.