Africa-Press – Namibia. The national budget will be tabled before new members of parliament (MPs) are sworn in.
Wilson Shikoto, spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprise, on Friday said the date will be communicated to the public.
Parliament is set to close on 19 March, after which new MPs will be sworn in before 21 March. On that date, president-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will also be sworn in as Namibia’s first female president.
The national budget is customarily tabled in February or March, followed by the mid-term expenditure framework (MTEF) later in the year.
This aligns with the end of the government’s financial year on 31 March.
In anticipation of the budget, economist Helena Mboti says Namibia’s fiscal policy is expected to maintain its focus on fiscal consolidation while remaining committed to improving the lives of Namibians.
“The government will continue investment spending in social sectors like education and health, alongside ongoing social relief programmes for systemic risks like drought, potentially supported by the revenue windfall from the extended tax amnesty programme,” she says.
While development budget execution has been a challenge, Mboti says a return to increased allocation towards infrastructure development is anticipated.
Further investments in efficiency improvements are also expected, building on initiatives and the finance minister’s concerns around execution rates from the previous fiscal year.
Given the recent comprehensive tax reforms and announcement of intended reforms, Mboti says significant new tax amendments are unlikely in the short term.
“However, the ministry did indicate we may get clarity on some reforms that were announced but not implemented yet, like the special economic zones,” she says.
In general, she says Namibia’s fiscal position has improved, with the government running a surplus in the last fiscal year.
Mboti expects the ministry to maintain the same level of discipline in the coming fiscal year, to maintain a surplus over the MTEF forecast.
She notes that the recent decision by Shell to write off about N$6.8 billion in exploration investment will not impact the national budget, as exploration companies account for risk in exploration activities and will absorb the loss.
Another economist, Josef Sheehama, says the ministry will navigate a challenging fiscal environment to address the country’s actual economic issues against a backdrop of high unemployment and low confidence.
The budget’s strategic focus on fiscal consolidation and cautious optimism for growth, Sheehama says, creates the conditions for purposeful and meaningful conversations about long-term structural reforms and sustainable economic remediation.
He believes the 2025/26 budget should prioritise embracing digital technologies and bolstering the cybersecurity framework by addressing cybercrime, data protection and digital literacy.
“I also anticipate restoring the economy’s resilience, promoting socio-economic reforms and safeguarding and advancing Namibians’ lives and livelihoods,” he says.
To combat unemployment, Sheehama expects policy shifts that place greater emphasis on youth empowerment, essential services and agriculture.
Furthermore, he believes that budgetary support for the health sector will be crucial to continue providing services disrupted by United States president Donald Trump’s funding freeze. Sheehama says increasing health spending promotes economic growth by improving the overall well-being of the population.
Other notable sectors – such as mining, agriculture, green hydrogen technologies, education, energy and security – are anticipated to receive significant budget allocations.
Overall, Sheehama anticipates that the ministry will present a more optimistic outlook for government finances, considering anticipated growth of 4% in the economy in 2025.
He says the success of the 2025/26 budget will depend on the government’s capacity to maintain fiscal discipline while ensuring more efficient implementation of crucial policy initiatives.
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