Shiimi deliveres much-anticipated budget

• By Kaipaherue Kandjii

Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises has unveiled the 2024/25 National Budget, which amounts to N$100.1 billion, under the theme “Continuing the Legacy of His Excellency, President Hage G.

Geingob by Caring for the Namibian Child”.

The 2024/25 Budget has invested more in Education, with 18.

4 billion, making Namibia one of the Countries prioritising the education sector in its budget. The budget further gave the health ministry N$18.3 billion and N$1,9 billion for the Agriculture Ministry.

Shiimi’s budget incorporates N$3.2 billion in development initiatives supported by foreign loans and grants, alongside N$12.8 billion allocated for interest payments. “The Substantial revenue boost stems from a positive adjustment in Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts estimated at N$28 billion. Over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period, revenue growth is projected to average 5%, reaching N$93.6 billion by the end of FY2026/27,” Shiimi said.

Andrew Niikondo, a Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), believes that the allocations for the Health, Agriculture and Education ministry should be the same. “Agriculture, Health and Education are supposed to be getting the same amount of funding because if you look at Agriculture, we do import more than we export, plus when we look at farmers, they are affected by the drought, so they will need money to buy medicine and feeders for their animals.

For more on this and other stories; grab a copy of the Newspaper