Africa-Press – Namibia. THE budget of the Office of the President has increased with N$343 million to almost N$1 billion after taking on two government departments.
The Namibian Presidency took over the department of government air transport services and regional governors from the Ministry of Works and Transport, as well as the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, respectively.
The budget allocation to the department of government air transport services is N$162,4 million, while the governors will cost N$54,8 million.
The minister in the presidency, Christina //Hoëbes, yesterday told the National Assembly that the budget has increased to N$956,5 million,” she said.
In 2021, the Presidency also established the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), which now gets a budget of N$120,3 million.
During that specific year, //Hoëbes said the major cost drivers in the Presidency were the transfers of commercial councillors and trade attachés, utilities, maintenance, Covid-19-related goods and services, as well as transfers to the NIPDB.
This time around the minister said the board’s job is to increase the volume, value and range of Namibia’s export of goods and services.
“. . . as well as secure external markets and preferential market access conditions for local products in regional and global markets,” //Hoëbes added yesterday.
Also under the Presidency, the Namibia Central Intelligence Service (NCIS) will spend N$324,3 million during the 2023/24 financial year. The majority of this allocation will go to their operational budget at an amount of N$286,7 million.
They also set aside N$37,6 million for their development budget.
The president’s directorate will get N$116 million for the upcoming financial year.
This minister said this will mostly go towards supporting the development of green hydrogen, the hosting of bi-national events, and monitoring the implementation of the Harambee Prosperity Plan II.
In the 2021/22 national budget, the Presidency has emerged as the only state organ to receive a double percentage point increase, with its allocation up by 23%.
All other ministries and offices received serious budget cuts. Meanwhile, the government set aside N$28,8 million this year for the Office of the Vice President and those of two former presidents for operations, the minister further said.
“. . . to ensure that the offices of the former presidents are properly maintained and that efficient and effective services are rendered,” the minister said.
The budget statement further shows that N$11,5 million will go towards supporting the vice president’s office. //Hoëbes said the government will allocate N$17,8 million for the operations of the offices of former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba.
She counted the near completion of the Chief Hosea Kutako Memorial Museum and Homestead Shrine as one of the Presidency’s achievements for the year under review.
This was in addition to the Business Rescue Task Force president Hage Geingob appointed in 2021.
“The task force carried out extensive research and consultations with experts in both the public and private sectors. “The report, outlining 23 recommendations and a preliminary implementation plan, was submitted and approved by the Cabinet in August 2022. Subsequently, the implementation of these recommendations has begun,” she said.
This is on top of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) task force appointed during the same year.
The task force assessed the country’s readiness for the fourth Industrial Revolution.
“We hosted in June 2022 the first Namibia 4IR conference, where the public also provided inputs.
The report and its 13 recommendations were approved by the Cabinet in November 2022, and implementation modalities are being finalised,”
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
