Government Information
Bulletin
Republic of Namibia
Economic inequalities to become a thing of
the Past
As a developing nation, Namibia faces numerous challenges, including a high unemployment rate, a skewed economy with
inequalities in income distribution, poverty and high HIV/AIDS prevalence. The government through its various agencies
and service providing institutions strives to level the field through the implementation of appropriate strategies and policies.
These policies are people centered and aimed at improving people’s standards of living.
T he country’s economy has been
growing steadily over the years. Peace
and stability continue to provide favourable
conditions to the economic development.
The benefits from the SACU and MTC
shares and improvement in tax collections
have increased revenue earnings in the
past financial year.
The implementation of transparent policies
and programmes in different sectors of
the economy has drawn the interests of
the donor community to support initiatives
aimed at reducing poverty. Over the past
five years, Namibia was able to achieve
an estimated GDP growth of 4.7% and
reduce public debt to 31.4% from 34% in
2005, which is below the 33.1% projected
in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework
(MTEF).
There have been additional funds
allocated to priority projects that need to
be developed, improved and enhanced
to maximise economic development and
growth. During the 2007/2008 financial
year, the government will embark on
various initiatives aimed at developing rural
communities. Funds are made available
to support small and upcoming towns and
villages in their endeavour to invest in
infrastructure development and technical
Pro-growth
IN ThIs Issue
economy benefits
majority
Page 8
Government Information Bulletin June 2007
Hon. Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila,
Minister of Finance
services. Presenting the 2007/2008 budget
in the National Assembly, Hon. Saara
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Minister of Finance,
said that the budget put the people at the
centre. “We need to improve their standards
and, therefore, our intervention must be
pro-growth for the poor. Equally we may not
allow that what we have achieved so far is
eroded away and, therefore, our intervention
must be sustainable.”
The budget includes funds towards rural
infrastructure development projects. In order
to level inequalities, the Agribank will provide
credit to previously disadvantaged groups so
Home Affairs
speeds up work
Page 11
June 2007
that they can participate and contribute
to the economic growth of the country.
The Ministries of Lands and Resettlement
and Agriculture, Water and Forestry are
providing services for communal land
improvement and skills development
among the resettled people in the farming
sector.
Tourism is one of the country’s high income
earning sectors. As a tourist destination,
Namibia is striving to expand the sector by
upgrading facilities and improve services
to attract more tourists and investments.
A total of N$50 million has been allocated
to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism
to fund the turnaround business strategy
for the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR). The
budget also provides for the extension of the
development of community-based natural
resources management.
Health and education continue to get the 1
largest financial shares from the national
cake. The funds allocated in the 2007/2008
will cater for reform in the education
system through the implementation of the
Education and Training Sector Improvement
Programme and for the construction,
renovation and upgrading of health facilities,
particularly in rural areas.
Local diamond
manufacturing to
boost economy
Page 14
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

From the Desk of the Minister Contents

T he 2007/2008 budget is known as
pro-poor or pro-growth. It addresses
issues of poverty reduction and sustainable
economic growth in practical terms. To
ease the burden of tax on incomes, the
government has taken some measures to
address the challenges of poverty among
the people. The lifting of threshold for
taxable income from N$24 000 to N$36
000 is a welcome move to improve the
take-home income and buying power of
the people in the lower income brackets.
The improvement of social safety nets is also a testimony that the gov-
ernment has the interest of the people at heart. The previous financial
year saw the increase in the budget allocation for pensioners. The current
budget makes available additional funds for the grants and allowances
to orphans and vulnerable children. More funds are also allocated to the
hospitals to roll out AIDS treatment so that more people in need of anti-
retroviral treatment will get access.
Education is the power to unlocking economic growth. To close the gap
in skills development, additional funds were put aside to improve educa-
tion and training through the Education, Training Sector Improvement
Programme (ETSIP). This move is expected to improve access and out-
comes.
Poverty can only be reduced when investment is directed to priority ar-
eas which benefit the people. Namibia is rich in mineral resources and
the benefit from the sales of diamonds is significant enough to stimulate
economic growth and development through the creation of jobs. The
establishment of cutting and polishing factories to give Namibians jobs
and provide them with technical and entrepreneurship skills is a move in
the right direction. Namibian citizens will finally be able to benefit from
their country’s natural resources, which previously had been exploited by
foreigners.
President Pohamba consolidating national dialogue........ 3
Plan to succeed................................................................. 3
Accountability and transparency vital in performance..... 4
Societal inequalities deter growth, poverty eradication..... 4
Local communities benefit from water and agriculture
schemes............................................................................. 5
NDF to provide high level education in the force.............. 5
Bigger money, bigger vision in education......................... 6
Decentralised justice......................................................... 6
Environment and Tourism Ministry receives more
money................................................................................ 7
Empowerment of women to contribute to poverty
alleviation in communities................................................ 7
Government’s pro-poor, pro-growth budget to benefit
lower income groups......................................................... 8
Government committed to aquaculture farming.............. 8
Namibia stands proud among nations of the world.......... 9
Funds to boost communal land reform............................. 9
Early Childhood Development centres to expand............. 10
Namibia close to Abudja 15% African health
budgets allocation target.................................................. 10
Home Affairs speeds up work........................................... 11
Development will suffer in absence of ICTs...................... 12
Labour matters to be addressed....................................... 13
Land is cardinal factor of production................................ 13
Local diamond manufacturing to boost national

The construction of national and rural roads and the rail network is a
boost to the economy, as people will have more opportunities to trade and
communicate with one another. Goods and services will be exchanged at
a faster pace than ever before. The completion of the northern railway
line from Tsumeb to Ondangwa last year is a milestone in the nation’s de-
velopment. The nation is looking forward to the completion of the second
phase from Ondangwa to Oshikango, which is the border post to Angola.
Feeder roads are being constructed in rural areas, during the 2007/2008
financial year, hence creating jobs for local communities and connecting
rural people to trade and business centres.
The launching of the second mobile communication license, Cell One/
PowerCom, adds value to the economy, as competition usually brings
favourable rates to fit everyone’s pocket. Namibians will be able to share
their ideas and experiences with each other wherever they are, regard-
economy............................................................................ 14
Decentralisation - roadmap to regional and local
development......................................................................14
Health care, rehabilitation, integration and community
service suffers for prison inmates..................................... 15
Criminals in the net........................................................... 15
If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.............. 16
Veterans Affairs tables it’s first budget............................ 16
Road network connects rural communities...................... 17
Government properties worth N$ 18 billion..................... 17
Youth exposure, experience, capacity building

2 less of distances. vital for nation building..................................................... 18

I call on all Namibians, to join hands with the government in rededicating
their hard work to nation building.
Anti-Corruption Commission gets more money................ 19
ECN allocated N$25.7 million for its activities.................. 19
National Assembly hosts children’s model parliament..... 20
National Council to strengthen democracy....................... 20

Government Information Bulletin: Publicising Government

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President Pohamba consolidating national
dialogue
The President’s policy strategy of consultation is aimed not only at promoting democracy, accountability and
transparency but also at consolidating national dialogue on socio-economic, political and cultural issues.
I n the 2006/2007 financial year,
the President continued to engage
citizens, from the business community
to political leaders, from church leaders
to traditional leaders, and from regional
and local authority counsellors to trade
union leaders and individual citizens.
These consultations are strategic in
bringing together different ideas,
opinions, knowledge and experiences
which can be used in making informed
decisions in nation building.
During the 2007/2008 financial year the
President will continue his consultations
with the people in the regions. He will
tour all regions in order to familiarise
himself with the country’s prevailing
socio-economic conditions.
On the international front, the President
continued to advance the interest of the
country through bilateral and multilateral
forums. On missions undertaken at the
bilateral level, the President’s main objective
was to promote the economic interests
of Namibia. He uses such opportunities
to attract investments. His programme
included meeting with industry and business
leaders in those countries so that they could
be informed about investment and business
opportunities that Namibia has to offer. In
most cases, the President included local
business leaders and entrepreneurs in his
Plan to Succeed
The National Planning Commission (NPC) is making headway through the formulation of the Third National
Development Plan (NDP3). The formulation of NDP3 is being guided by policy directives such as Vision 2030,
Recommendations of the 2005 Special Cabinet Retreat, the 2004 SWAPO Party Election Manifesto and the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
D uring the 2006/07 financial year, the
NPC conducted Participatory Poverty
Assessments for ten regions. Regional
poverty profiles from the assessment are
being finalised and will be disseminated
during the 2007/08 financial year. The profiles
contain information on the poverty situations
in each of the regions and recommendations
for poverty reduction.
Since Namibia’s economy depends on
agricultural production, a feasibility study
on the assessment of market for Namibian
agricultural products, setting up of cold
storage facilities, increasing value addition
and improved marketing of Namibia’s marine
fish products was carried out. The findings
Government Information Bulletin June 2007
H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba
delegation to interact with their counterparts
in host counties and initiate business-to-
business contacts. Some of these business
leaders have already concluded business
deals with Namibian counterparts, as a result
of these bilateral contacts. For instance,
12 business deals have been signed with
Chinese companies. To further the country’s
interests, the President attended the AU
Heads of State and Government Summit in
Ethiopia, the SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit
in Tanzania, the UN General Assembly in
the New York, the Non Aligned Summit in
Hon. Helmut Angula, Director-General, NPC
Cuba, Africa-China Summit in China and
the Africa-France Summit in France. At
the bilateral level, the President visited
countries such as Congo Brazzaville,
the United States of America, Sweden,
Luxembourg, Singapore and Ghana.
The President extended invitation to his
counterparts to further strengthen the
relations that exist between Namibia
and those countries and also to promote
trade and economic ties. They included
the Presidents of the People’s Republic
of China, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South
Africa.
President Pohamba will continue to
honour invitations from his counterparts
to cement good diplomatic relations and
to promote trade relations between the
business communities of such countries. A
number of Heads of State and Government of
other countries are expected to visit Namibia
during the current financial year.
The Office of the President requires a
total amount of N$230 160 million to fund
programmes under its operational and
development budgets. The funds requested
will be spent on the five main programmes
such as the protection and defence of the
Namibian Constitution, delivery of services,
intelligence, Office of the Founding President
and the Cabinet Secretariat.
3
of the report will assist the government
to design appropriate strategies aimed at
improving the economic viability in the
agriculture and fishing sectors.
The NPC continues to engage development
partners with the aim to mobilise resources
for the national development projects. As
a result, resources were mobilised from
partners such as the European Union which
will be supporting projects in Namibia
during the period 2008/2013 to the tune
of 83 million Euros, as contained in the
NamibiaEuropean Community Country
Strategy and National Indicative Programme.
The support will address issues of human
resources development with emphasis on
Continues on page 5
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007
Accountability and transparency vital
in performance
The Office of the Auditor-General contributes to the national objectives of the government by ensuring best use
of public resources, and assisting the audited bodies to achieve proper accountability and transparency through
compliance with internationally accepted accounting principles.
Mr. Junias Kandjeke, Auditor-General
Societal Inequalities deter growth,
poverty eradication
Entrenched inequalities in the Namibian society and economy deter growth, economic development,
employment creation and poverty eradication in the country. This can only change through the creation of
the Transformational Economic and Social Empowerment Framework that will ensure fair, transparent and
sustainable future participation of previously disadvantaged people in the economic and social sectors in the
country.
M otivating the budget of the Office
of the Prime Minister in the
National Assembly on 16 April 2007,
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Libertina
Amathila said the Prime Minister’s
Office needs N$115.743 million for the
2007/2008 financial year. A portion
of this money would be used for
the drafting of the Transformational
Economic and Social Empowerment
4
Framework, which should be finalised
in the first half of next year.
Dr. Amathila informed the National
Assembly that N$16.962 million is
needed for the implementation of
the programme dealing with the
constitutional obligations of the Prime
Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
The funds would be used to enable the
Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to
continue with their activities to provide support
to the president, coordinate Cabinet business
and to act as the leader of government
business in Parliament. Similarly, the San
development project, which is expected to
have a significant socio-economic impact
over the long term, will continue. Through
this project, San students are assisted to
start agri-projects and manufacturing. The
Prime Minister’s Office also needs N$89.236
T he office will use its budget for
2007/2008 to publish three performance
audit reports, three follow-up reports and
reports on eighteen asset inspections to
be carried out country-wide. The agency
is expected to table one hundred and
fifteen audit reports of institutions such
as municipalities, boards, corporations
and parastatal bodies from the 2008/2009
financial year.
During the 2007/2008 financial year,
the Auditor-General’s office will finalise
at least three performance audits and
three follow-up audits; assist the Public
Accounts Committee to enforce the
recommendations made in performance
Rt. Hon. Nahas Angula Prime Minister
million for its programme on public service
management and improvement. Apart from
the improvements in remuneration for civil
servants in accordance with the agreement
reached with the recognised trade unions,
the Performance Management System will
be extended across the public service. The
government Information Communications
Technologies (ICTs) initiatives will
also continue, while a service delivery
audit reports; continue in-house training
for newly recruited performance audit staff
and quarterly workshops; and improve
the quality of audit reports. In conducting
financial audits, the office will strive to obtain
financial statements from clients on time in
order to decrease the level of outstanding
reports; arrange continuous training
programmes to improve audit quality;
improve the controls implemented through
audit recommendations; reduce audit
costs per hour by implementing the time
recording system in full; and evaluate how
the recommendations are implemented. The
office of the Auditor-General has requested
for approval an amount of N$26 015 000
to enable it to carry out its activities in
2007/2008 financial year.
improvement scheme and a new job
evaluation and grading system will be
introduced. The Prime Minister’s office
is also involved in initiatives related to
HIV/AIDS and persons with disabilities
in the workplace.
An amount of N$18.960 million will this
year be used to expand the Namibia
Institute of Public Administration
and Management (NIPAM). NIPAM
is a dedicated public service training
institution and the allocated funds
will be used for buildings and
infrastructure in Windhoek. NIPAM
will soon be created as an agency in
terms of the Public Service Act of 1995
and its first training programmes will
kick off this year. The governments
of France, India and Finland have
supported this government initiative. Due
to the fact that the Namibian Public Service
is highly regarded in the Southern African
Development Community (SADC), Namibia
has been assigned with the responsibility to
organise the Africa Public Service Day on 23
June 2007 in the SADC region. Namibia will
also be responsible for the continent-wide
organisation and coordination of the Africa
Public Service Day in September 2007.
Continues on page 6
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Local communities benefit from water and

agriculture schemes
The Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, continues to ensure the development
and provision of equitable, and reasonable access to clean and safe water resources for the benefit of the
Namibian people, especially those who live in rural areas where water is a scarce resource.

T he infrastructure development remains a

prerequisite in the water supply process
to points where populations can access water
for their domestic, irrigation and industrial
use. In the 2006/2007 financial year, 237
new water points were constructed and 234
boreholes and pipeline off-take water points
were rehabilitated while 345 km of pipeline
was laid in needy communities.
The Otjozondjupa region has benefited from
the budget as 138 community water points
were converted to private consumer off-takes
at the cost of N$73 million. In the 2007/2008
financial year, the Ministry has estimated the
cost of pipeline construction in Tsandi South
in the Omusati region, Onambutu Pipeline
Schemes in the Ohangwena region and the
upgrading of the Waterberg - Okakarara and
Ogongo - Oshakati rural water supply to
N$40 million. Of the total budget earmarked
for the construction of pipelines, N$16 million
is secured for the community-based water
management programme.
Only 20% of the total budget of N$652,766
million, including N$41.7 million funds
from the European Union
allocated to the Ministry, in the
current financial year, is for the
development budget with the
remaining 80% going to the
operational budget.
The Ministry will continue to
finance a feasibility study for the
joint irrigation project between
Namibia and Zambia Agricultural
Production Joint Venture in
the 2007/2008 financial year.
The study is also investigating
suitable and high value crops
which can be processed and
exported to other markets.
The Ministry’s funds are
also supporting equally
Hon. Nickey Iyambo, Minister of Agriculture,
important programmes such Water and Forestry
as the emerging, resettled and
affirmative action farmers, under extension services in agriculture training; and
which 1010 newly farmers were resettled information and advisory services, with the
in the Khomas, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, aim of encouraging the adoption of improved
Hardap and Karas regions; the provision of farming technologies and practices.

NDF to provide high level

education in the force
Plan to Succeed
The country’s stable, secure and peaceful environment is an insurance
enforced by the Namibian Defence Force (NDF). Such an environment
contributes to the country’s economic development and direct foreign
investments.
Continues from page 3

T his justifies the allocation of a total amount
of N$1 682 842 000 billion for the financial
year 2007/2008 that the Ministry of Defence
will use to fund three programmes, namely
operations, international deployments and
construction, research and development.
Under the operations programme, the
Ministry seeks to meet the challenge of
human resources development. The force
wants to create a knowledgeable pool of
service men and women to operate modern
equipment and weapon systems as well
as taking equitable decisions in a rapid
situation required in the 21st century. One
of the steps taken to address the education
of the staff is the introduction of the master
of arts programme in security and strategic
studies, in conjunction with the University of
Namibia (UNAM). This programme is aimed
at qualifying officers in defence and security
management aspects. The programme is
expected to be inaugurated in May 2007.
The army, airforce and navy need qualified
personnel in their respective fields to
enable them to keep up with technological
advancement and constantly review the state
of their equipment. Due to the shortage of
human resource personnel, the airforce and
navy will recruit 400 young people in 2007.
The candidates will have completed grade
12 with good marks in English, mathematics,
and physical science.
Plans are underway to establish a military
academy at Okahandja to enhance the
defence capacity and reduce dependency.
The Ministry is sending some of its officers
to training institutions abroad to be trained
as trainers of trainers who will run courses
at the envisaged academy on their return.
The efforts are aimed at having a pool of
academically qualified personnel to lead the
force and contribute to the development and
consolidation of peace and stability in the
country.
5
education and rural development. The
agency is also negotiating and consulting
on additional resources, with other
development partners such as China,
Germany, Luxembourg, France and
the United States of America. Through
strategic negotiations, the NPC was able
to draw assistance for the country in the
form of grants and soft loans.
Namibia is since 2005 eligible to benefit
from the Millennium Challenge Account,
a fund set up by the USA government
to assist developing countries to reduce
poverty through economic growth.
A team is set up in the country, under
the National Planning Commission, to
undertake a study, through a process of
“due diligence”.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Bigger money, bigger vision in education

The Namibian government has, over the years, invested in education by allocating the biggest share of the
annual budget to its development and progress. The commitment to education is inherent in the ambitious plan
to bring quality and equity in education, training and skills development programmes.

T he more than N$3,6 billion allocation to

the Ministry of Education, in the 2007/08,
will be used to improve school pass rates to at
role in the education of
children by seeing to it
that their responsibilities
least ninety percent, as has been advocated are met instead of
by President Hifikepunye Pohamba at several leaving everything to
occasions. the classroom. In his
budget speech, Hon.
The Ministry will ensure the effective Nangolo Mbumba,
implementation of the Education and Minister of Education,
Training Sector Improvement Programme urged learners to be
(ETSIP), which is envisaged to lead to better disciplined and
efficient use of available financial and human rededicate themselves
resources as well as injecting a culture of towards completing their
accountability for positive results at all levels studies. He also advised
of the education system. Teachers’ Unions to
rise beyond the current
Through the programme, performance focus on bread and
management and result oriented issues butter issues and be true
Children in the classroom
will be the main focus. The system aims partners by assisting the
to reduce contributing factors to the high Ministry to decisively colleges and institutions of higher learning.
failure rates at schools, including non- tackle issues that impede the provision of Namibia received an international award
retention of managers whose schools are quality education. from the Society for Information Technology
under-performing. for outstanding services to digital equity
The Minister noted that the education system in teacher education. Minister Mbumba
Success requires a formation of alliance continues to make strides in implementing a said the award was a notable milestone in
among stakeholders in education. Parents programme to increase the use of information the country’s journey to provide ICT at all
are expected to play an equally important and communication technology in all schools, education and training institutions.

Decentralised justice
The Ministry of Justice sought approval for a budget allocation of N$246 071 million for the 2007/2008
financial year. The amount is needed to fund activities pertaining to justice such as administrative justice,
legal Aid, protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, law development and drafting, international
cooperation, deceased estates, guardian fund, trusts and prosecution of crime.

T he Ministry has solved the problem of

lack of magistrates in its operations. All
magistrates courts are currently filled with
the exception of the Outjo Magistrate court.
Plans are underway to fill the position.
The Ministry expanded its services to several
areas. Legal aid offices have been opened at
6 Oshakati, Ondangwa, Tsumeb, Grootfontein,
Rundu, Otjiwarongo, Gobabis, Mariental,
Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund and Katutura.
The Ministry in 2006 spent close to N$7
million, through the Legal Aid programme
on state sponsored defense teams for the
Caprivi treason trial.
A total of N$39 253 million was allocated
to the Guardian Fund for the payment of
benefits to minors and other beneficiaries
while N$1 389 million was incurred by the
Government Attorney for costs to legal
practitioners, advocates and other legal
matters.
Minister of Justice, Hon. Pendukeni
Iivula-Ithana making a point

Societal inequalities deter growth, poverty eradication

Continues from page 4

The funds allocated under this programme
will also be used for the implementation of
the provisions of the State-owned Enterprises
Governance Act, which was promulgated
late last year. The implementation of the
Act will result in a number of initiatives to
improve the governance of state-owned
enterprises. The third area of responsibility of
the Prime Minister’s office is that of disaster
recovery and emergency services. An amount
of N$9.545 million is allocated to enable the
office to manage disasters and emergencies.
Previously, resources have been allocated
from the Contingency Fund to allow for
decisive action to minimise the effects of
disasters and emergencies. As from the
2007/2008 financial year, annual allocations
of N$5 million will be made to supplement
the disaster and emergency fund. Major
emergencies, however, will still be funded
through the Contingency Fund after Cabinet
authorisation.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Environment and Tourism Ministry receives

more money
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has received substantial overall budgetary allocation increase
of 98.4% for the 2007/2008 financial year. This increase was made on its operational and development budgets.
There is an increase in the operational budget from N$139 846 000 in 2006/2007 financial year to N$197 610
000 in the 2007/2008 financial year, which represents 41.3% increase and the development budget has been
increased from N$11 303 000 in 2006/2007 to N$102 307 000 for the 2007/2008 financial year, representing
an increase of 905.1% for capital and development projects.

T he bulk of the increase in the operational

budget, N$50 million, is earmarked for
the Namibia Wildlife Resorts Ltd (NWR) as
part of the turnaround strategic plan, as
earlier agreed by Cabinet to make it meet
the demands of the market.
The development budget is envisaged
to cover long-standing infrastructure
development backlogs in office and staff
accommodation. Part of the funds will be
used to complete the work being done to the
Troskie Building, which is to become the new
headquarters of the Ministry and the rest of
it (N$75 million) is going to special projects
aimed at employment creation through
tourism.
Introducing the budget for MET in the
Parliament, Hon. Willem Konjore, Minister
of Environment and Tourism, emphasized
the importance of the tourism sector to
the country’s economical growth and
development potential, adding that tourism
must get the attention of everyone,
including all government agencies, and
the entire service sector of the economy.
He said: “More than any other economic
sector, it is the total package of what a
country offers that counts in tourism. It is
the sum of our policies, regulations, services,
infrastructure, international image and our
natural attractions and environment that will
determine our success.”
Hon. Konjore saw the challenge to pull
efforts together strategically to develop the
sector as it is one of the industries that could
be more sustainable and less vulnerable
to uncertain climatic conditions and unfair
global competitions which are a threat to
other sectors such as manufacturing and
trade. This year, the Ministry will develop
“a tourism growth strategy for Namibia”
– efforts which will require the participation
of all stakeholders to make the most of the
strategic opportunity.
Tourism is one of the country’s fastest
growing economic sectors whose value has
been recently estimated at between N$1
and N$2 billion per year. With the increase
in budget allocation, as a government
investment, the sector is expected to play
a bigger role in reducing unemployment in
the country, especially among the rural poor
who would be involved in both wildlife and
nature conservation, from which they would
earn a living.
The budget will be allocated to the wide range
of sections that the Ministry is managing and
administering. Apart from the tourism sector,
MET caters for the environment sector,
protected areas, wildlife resources and the
regulation of gambling and lotteries.

Empowerment of women to contribute to

poverty alleviation in communities
In view of the fact that the majority of women are marginalised and are living under poverty conditions, the
Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) is empowering women with skills in order to alleviate
poverty among them. Some of the methods used are education and awareness creation on how members of
communities can be involved or participate in activities that would help them to raise their standard of life.

I n order to combat poverty among women,

the Ministry is providing small grants to
support community initiatives and innovative
ideas of generating income at community
levels. The Ministry initiated and staged
mobilisation and sensitisation meetings
aimed at boosting people’s participation in
income-generating programmes that would
improve their financial status.
During the 2006/2007 financial year, 191
mobilisation meetings were held in 13
regions, reaching out to 4770 people. As
a result of these meetings, the Ministry
received 958 project proposals, submitted
from people seeking for financial support,
- a substantial increase in the number of
proposals submitted in the previous years.
Out of the number of project proposals
received in the 2006/2007, the Ministry
was only able to support 75 projects, eight
of which benefited the San communities in
Caprivi, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omushati,
7
Otjozondjupa, Omaheke and oshikoto
regions. According to a fair and transparent
assessment process conducted by the
Regional Assessment Teams, before the
allocation of grants to applicants, many of
the proposals were viable for support but
the Ministry could not raise enough financial
resources to support all of them.
As part of the grant incentive, the budget
of the Ministry is also used in supporting
projects with human resources development,
in terms of training of members in basic skills
on business management and leadership.
During 2006/2007, 150 people were trained
in basic financial management such as
Hon. Marlene Mungunda, Minister of
bookkeeping, marketing and customer care
Gender Equality and Child Welfare

Continues on page 10
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Government’s pro-poor, pro-growth budget to

benefit lower income groups
The Ministry of Finance has tabled a budget of N$2 744 374 billion for the 2007/2008 financial year, excluding
the statutory expenditure, in the form of interest payments, loan repayments and guarantees. The budget is
allocated on the basis of pro-poor and pro-growth principle. The pro-poor budget is to benefit the economically
disadvantaged members of the Namibian society in terms of funding activities that would alleviate poverty
in communities. The funds are intended for the building and improvement of infrastructures such as schools,
clinics, and the creation of job opportunities in rural communities.

T he budget targets the improvement of

education and skill acquisition of the
disadvantaged people. The government
has made additional resources available
to improve educational outcomes while
broadening access to education.
To reduce the tax burden on lower income
groups, the Ministry of Finance shifted
the non-taxable threshold from N$24 000
to N$36 000. Deductions allowable for
retrenchment contributions will be increased
from N$30 000 to N$40 000 with the aim to
lessen the burden on the government, in the
long run.
The government also made available
resources to benefit the orphans and
vulnerable children, including resources
to be put towards the roll out of AIDS
treatment programmes so that Namibians
in need of anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment
will have access to the services. Namibia
already provides treatment to about 50%
of people in need of this. The pro-growth
budget allocation is aimed at unlocking the
productive capacity of the economy.
Under this policy, the Government aims
at investing in the rural infrastructure
development, especially extending the
road and railway network. The funds
provided through the Development Bank,
Nampower and the Agribank are aimed at
accelerating economic growth to benefit
poor communities.

Government committed to aquaculture

farming
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is making progress in infrastructure development for its
Aquaculture farming programme, especially with the completion of the first phase of the Epalela fish farm that
was recommenced in 2005. The construction included 29 earth and concrete ponds and fencing of the farm.
As a result, the farm received fish seeds, totaling approximately 132 824, excluding the small ones, as its first
supply of fingerlings, tilapia and catfish in its 14 ponds by the end of December 2006. Harvesting of the fish is
expected to take place in November 2007.

During his budget motivation, Fisheries and
Marine Resources Minister, Dr. Abraham
Iyambo, announced that the fish farming
project along the Zambezi/Chobe Systems
has resumed its operations after fishing
was halted, following a high bacterial
contamination, which was detected in fish
and water samples from the Zambezi River
and its tributaries last year.
8 The Minister had announced, in the previous
season, to the public that fish in the Zambezi
River was contaminated with bacteria and
there were occurrences of deformed fish
and infestation of fish with worms, which
Fish Farming was not conducive for human consumption.
Another set back in the fish farming was
this year’s floods in the Caprivi and Kavango
regions, which had caused devastating
damage to three of the six co-operative
fish farms in the two regions, in which an
estimate of 1.6 million fish was grown.
Currently the Ministry requires an amount
of N$2, 538, 000 to rehabilitate the farms
including the integration of horticulture
into aquaculture. Said Minister Iyambo:
“Government is committed to rural
development and necessary repairs will be
made to these farms.”
The Ministry’s total budget allocation for

T he Ministry has embarked on the second

phase of the construction at the Epalela
fish farm, in March this year, which is
expected to be completed within the next
seven months. The work will concentrate
mainly on the construction of housing,
office block, processing plant and a storage
room for which N$4, 100, 000 will be made
available in the 2007/2008 financial year
budget.
“For health reasons a closed fishing season
was declared pending the outcome of further
laboratory tests,” noted Minister Iyambo.
The incident was a set back to the fish farming
project in the area. Subsequently, the fishing
activities were resumed in February 2007
following the clearance from the laboratory
tests of the water of the Zambezi and its
tributaries.
2007/2008 financial year is an amount of
N163 705 000. The budget will cover some of
the programmes such as the implementation
of the monitoring, control and surveillance
Programme, the development of fisheries
inspections, operational and maintenance
of surveillance equipment, logistics,
Fisheries Observer Programme, human
resources development and development of
Aquaculture sector.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Namibia stands proud among nations of the

world
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs motivated a total amount of N$272 843 000 for its activities in the 2007/2008
financial year. Of its development budget of N$38 583 000, N$4 million will fund the completion of the United
Nations (UN) House in Windhoek. The UN house is expected to be completed in August 2007. The house will
accommodate all UN agencies based in Namibia.

T he Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to

implement Namibia’s foreign policy and
to facilitate interaction between Namibia and
other governments and institutions. Namibia
emphasises economic diplomacy, focusing
on investment promotion, trade, tourism and
security.
In this, the Ministry continues to cement
cooperation thereby expanding and
deepening Namibia’s efforts towards
sustainable development, in keeping with
the national development plans and Vision
2030.
The cooperation is demonstrated in the
number of official and state visits in the
past financial year. Namibia hosted official
and state visits by HE Mr Jakaya Kikwete,
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
and HE Mr Festus Mogae of Botswana in
2006. The Ministry also facilitated the official
and state visits by HE President Hifikepunye
Pohamba to Sweden, Luxembourg, Congo
Brazzaville and Singapore during the
2006/2007 financial year.
In 2007, Namibia welcomed HE Mr Hu Jintao,
President of the People’s Republic of China,
HE Mr Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of
Zimbabwe, HE Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa,
President of the Republic of Zambia, Rt.
Hon. Mikhail Fradkov, Prime Minister of
the Russian Federation, Rt. Hon. Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia
and HE Mr Sellapan Rama Nathan, President
of the Republic of Singapore.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Marco
Hausiku consulting with President
Hifikepunye Pohamba
During the visits, Namibia sought to
strengthen cooperation in a number of
areas including industrial development,
science, technology and human resources
development. Various agreements were
concluded between Namibia and the visiting
delegations. In the 2007/2008 financial year,
Namibia will receive Heads of State and
Governments from Angola, Congo Brazzaville
and South Africa. President Pohamba is
invited to visit the UK and Japan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues
to monitor and advise the government
on developments within regional and
international organisations such as the
Southern African Development Community
(SADC), the African Union (AU), the UN, the
European Union (EU), the Commonwealth,
the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) and the
Group of 77 and China which affect Namibia’s
interests.
Presenting the 2007/2008 financial year
budget in the National Assembly in April
2007, Hon. Marco Hausiku, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, said these interests should
not be viewed only in the context of financial
terms but also in ensuring peace, justice and
security for humanity.
Namibia continues to play significant roles in
regional and the international organisations.
The country served as Chair of the SADC
organ on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation from August 2005 to August
2006. Apart from having hosted SADC
meetings in 2006, the country attended
meetings of the AU and UN, at which economic
integration, peace and security decisions
about the African continent and the world
were taken. The country is a member of the
AU Committee of ten on the UN reform and
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked
tirelessly to popularise the common African
position on the organization’s reform by
soliciting support from permanent member
states of the UN Security Council and other
member states.

Funds to boost communal land reform 9

The Government is committed to the improved management in the communal areas and in this financial year,
the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement will provide funds for the production of Land Use Plans for the Hardap
and the Karas regions. The effort is aimed at assessing the capability and sustainability of the land and the
integration of farmers’ needs and aspirations, as well as conservation measures.

T he assessment is to ensure that land

maintains its status of continuous
production and also for its quality to be
managed carefully.
For this, an amount of more than five point
two nine million Euro (E5.29) is earmarked
for the improvement of infrastructure on
small scale farms in communal areas. The
agreement was signed towards the end of
last year between the Namibian Government
and the KfW Bank on behalf of the German
government. A Plan of Action to determine
how to spend the funds is underway and
is expected to be completed in due course.
Motivating the budget expenditure of the
2007/2008 financial year, Hon. Isak Katali,
Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement
noted, “This funding provides a much needed
boost to improve farming in communal
areas.”
He was confident that if all stakeholders
supported the Government to bring those
who were previously excluded from land
ownership, the goal to use the land sustainably
and contribute to Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) could undoubtedly be achieved.
The Namibian Government received support
to address land management and land
reform, under the current Medium Term
Expenditure Framework (METF) from the
European Union, Kingdom of Spain and the
Cuban Government.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007
Early Childhood development centres to
expand
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) needs N$24 577 000 00 to expand both vertically
and horizontally its programme of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) to all 13 regions in order to ensure
quality service delivery.
F aced with the reform in terms of the
implementation of the Education and
Training Sector Improvement Programme
(ETSIP), under which the pre-primary
education is to be mainstreamed into the
general education programme, the MGECW
is working together with the Ministry of
Education to ensure that modalities for
the transfer and provision of universal pre-
primary schooling are in place.
Namibia close to Abudja 15% African health
budgets allocation target
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) receives the second largest share of the annual budget
allocation from the State Fund Revenue after the Ministry of Education. The share to health development
represents 10.12% of the total national budget. This amount is close to the Abuja target of 15% allocation to
the African national health budgets. The target was set at the Africa Heads of State and Government in Abuja,
Nigeria, during their Summit on 25 April 2000.
A total amount of N$1 682 916 billion is
allocated to the Ministry, for the year
2007/2008, of which N$1 569 252 000
(93.25%) is for the operational budget
and N$113 664 000 (6.75%) is for the
development budget.
Programmes to be covered under the
operational budget are Tertiary Health
Care, Regional and District Health Services,
Disease control, Special Programmes and
Social Protection. The development budget
will cover activities such as Primary Health
Care, health systems development and the
capital projects.
10
The development budget consists of two
sources, namely; the State Revenue Fund and
funds from the development partners, which
are channelled outside the State Revenue
Fund. Apart from the ongoing work, the
Ministry was able to score some achievements
Empowerment of women to contribute to poverty alleviation in
communities
Continues from page 7
so that they would be able to manage their
income generating initiatives profitably.
Apart from formal training, other methods
are used in sharing information and skills
among the people. To employ a holistic
approach, a video on income-generating
projects was produced. The video
The pre-primary education of the 5 – 6
aged children will continue to be under the
MGECW’s ECD centres countrywide until
modalities are worked out to ensure shared
responsibility with the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry continues to construct, manage
and care for the ECD centres and ensure
the registration and accessibility to even
the less advantaged communities. A total of
2878 ECD centres were registered in all 13
regions in 2006 and 8566 children have been
in the past year. The Ministry financed the
renovation and upgrading of hospitals in
Khorixas, Omaruru, Andara, Nyangana and
“Health
development
gets 10.12% of the
national budget”
Eenhana; health centres in Ongwediva, and
Ongha; clinics in Fransfontein, Otjokavare,
Otjimuhaka, Okaku, Omboloka and
Stampriet; and anti-retroviral (ARV) clinics
at Katutura Intermediate Hospital, Outapi,
Katima Mulilo hospitals and mortuaries in
Koës and Mpungu Vlei. In addition to the
provides information on success stories
and best practices of small scale business
initiatives aimed at combating poverty and
unemployment among the communities.
Groups from Erongo, Oshikoto, Omaheke
and Khomas regions were accorded
opportunities to visit projects in other areas
such as Tsumkwe and Otjozondjupa region,
while some groups were sponsored to attend
enrolled out of which 4286 are girls and 4274
are boys. In addition, 1214 orphans and
vulnerable children, of whom 593 are boys
and 621 are girls, were also enrolled at the
centres. The funds will also be used to train
caregivers. Three hundred and seventeen
caregivers were trained in different ECD
related courses, including child care, toy
making, methodology in child teaching and
management of the ECD centres in the past
year.
renovated and upgraded health facilities,
twelve other facilities, mostly clinics and
two mortuaries, were inaugurated during
the previous year. In a combined efforts
with development partners, the business
community, faith-based bodies, none-
governmental organisations and individuals,
the Ministry carried out a successful nation-
wide campaign against polio, last year,
achieving 102% coverage.
More than N$8.6 million, additional to the
funds provided for under the operational
budget, was spent on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and malaria. Development Partners have
pledged to further support the Ministry
with N$333, 145 000 (74.6%) of the total
development budget to be used in combating
HIV/AIDS, development of physical and
human resources, strengthening of health
systems management mechanisms and
other Primary Health Care programmes.
Trade Fairs in Ongwediva, Rundu and
Windhoek shows. These efforts are aimed at
providing opportunities for people to learn
best practices from different places. With
the allocation in the 2007/2008 financial
year budget, the Ministry will sponsor
exhibitors to attend the Global Summit of
Women to be held in Berlin, German, in
June 2007.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Home Affairs speeds up work

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration not only consumes public funds but equally contributes
to the public revenue fund with funds generated every year. During the financial year 2006/2007,
the Ministry collected an amount of N$69 586 118 50 from services to the public as compared to the
operational and capital budgets of N$119 057 000 requested for the financial year 2007/2008.

M otivating the Ministry’s budget in April

2007, Minister Hon. Rosalia Nghidinwa,
said she was confident that her Ministry
would be able to announce a budget
surplus during the current Medium Term
Expenditure Framework (MTEF), as soon as
the programmes were implemented.
the Ministry is seeking advice from all
regional governors on the establishment of
regional offices countrywide. The Ministry
is in the process of purchasing ten, fully
equipped mobile vehicles to enhance civil
registration and take service to the most
remote areas.

The Ministry is requesting funds to finance
programmes such as civil registration,
immigration control, citizenship,
national forensic services and refugee
administration.
Hon. Nghidinwa said her Ministry resolved
to increase the production capacity with less
or the same human and financial resources
in the shortest possible period of time. The
Ministry has devised strategies which are
bearing positive results. To finance the civil
registration programme of births, marriages,
deaths and identities of Namibians over the
age of 16 years, the Ministry is requesting
N$69 250 000 to enable it to provide quality
service to citizens and to facilitate the
smooth running operations of corporations,
government economic planning and resource
allocation.
Since 1 April 2006, the Ministry has reduced
the waiting period for identity cards from two
years to 24 working days, hence reducing the
number of complaints from the public. As a
result, the Ministry received a bronze medal
from the African Professional Management
Review. This award is awarded each year to
Namibian leading institutions.
In view of the upcoming events in the
SADC region, including the implementation
of Free Trade Area in 2008, the World
Cup and the African Cup of Nations to
take place in South Africa and Angola in
2010 respectively, the Ministry will face
challenges in terms of controlling and
facilitating movements of people visiting
and leaving Namibia.
To start the process of establishing
measures to curb crime during the period,
Hon. Rosalia Nghidinwa, Minister of Home Affairs
the Ministry is requesting N$47 943 000 to
finance research on modern border control
systems in addition to the introduction of Namibia is home to 7 322 asylum seekers
e-gates at major entry points that would from African countries such as the Democratic
enhance the speed of clearance of people Republic of Congo and Angola, most of who
and goods. Apart from building border post are accommodated at the Osire Refugee
facilities such as houses for staff members, Camp and continues to spend money on the
the Ministry will continue to issue permits deportation of those who enter the country
and visas. illegally.

The waiting period for issuing of passports

was reduced from 100 to 10 working days.
The Ministry also intends to issue express
passport services, after the current system
has been upgraded, for those who can afford
to pay for delivery in a day or even in an
hour. 11
The Ministry undertook a mission to
all regions to register and facilitate the
provision of national documents to learners
at combined senior secondary schools. A
total of 50 000 learners were registered. A
total of 189 748 identity cards were issued
and 114 946 IDs were collected during the
2006/2007 financial year.

In consultation with the Office of the Prime

Minister, the Ministry has finalised and
upgraded the national population register
with the aim to allow the integration and
linkages between various records. The
register dates back from 1894. The Ministry
will convert the existing paper based records
into the electronic database. Plans are
underway to register newborn babies at
maternity wards. To make the work easier, Members of the Namibian Defence Force distribute ID’s
at the Zoo Park, Windhoek
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Development will suffer in absence of ICTs

To create a knowledge-based society, a multi-faceted media environment is needed to direct education,
information and entertainment to communities in need. As technology advances, there is a need to decentralise
the media to reach remote communities who usually lag behind in the use of communication and information
tools. The use of information, communication and technologies (ICTs) play a significant role in the transmission
of information to communities, educating, informing and mobilising them to participate in the development of
their localities. As a result, Cabinet declared the development and establishment of ICTs as one of the national
priorities.

The funds were also used in the renovation

of the Ministry Head Office and in the
installation of digital equipment at the
Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)
radio broadcast studio in Windhoek and the
Otjiwarongo and Keetmanshoop contributing
centres. The NBC completed the transmitter
network at Okongo, Gam, Windhoek,
Mariental, Keetmanshoop, Buitepos, Aus,
Aranos, Rundu and Oshakati, while the
Oshiwambo and Otjiherero language services
were expanded to Mariental.

New Era improved its generation of revenue

from N$7 562 339 in 2005/2006 financial
year to N$11 825 832 in the 2006/2007
financial year due to its increased popularity,
price and improved marketing strategy. The
newspaper’s advertising income has also
increased from N$6 194 373 in 2005/2006
to N$9 427 589 in 2006/2007 financial year.

Achievements have been recorded in the

performance of other media such as the
Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA) and the
Southern Times, a joint venture between
Zim (Zimbabwe) Papers and the New Era
Publications Corporation.

On the entertainment part, N$170 million

Information & Broadcasting Minister, Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
watching how electronic media works
was spent on the production of feature films
and television commercials. In addition, the
country generated more than N$2,4 million
from the production of 82 documentaries by
foreign nationals, using Namibian locations.
Payment for work permits for film makers

T he Minister of Information and Programme, donated ICT equipment such generated N$200 000 while 97 Namibians
Broadcasting, Hon. Netumbo Nandi- as computers, solar equipment to areas had temporary jobs in the production of
Ndaitwah emphasised the power of ICTs in without electricity, plasma screen television films.

12 national development when she motivated

the 2007/2008 budget of the Ministry in the
National Assembly recently. She noted that
due to lack of skills and equipment in the
country, access to ICTs is still beyond the
reach of a major proportion of the Namibian
population.
The Minister said the role that the electronic
and the print media can play is immeasurable,
hence the need for adequate financial
support to enable it to contribute towards
the realisation of Vision 2030, citing the
positive contribution the media made during
the polio immunisation campaign in 2006.
To close the information gap between rural
and urban communities, the Ministry, through
the Audiovisual Network Consolidation
sets and multi-media projectors to schools in
Kavango, Kunene and the Omaheke regions.
The equipment will enable centres and
schools to screen educative and informative
films and documentaries on best practices
from within the country and elsewhere.
In the 2006/2007 financial year funds were
used to print the Government Information
Bulletin which is aimed at sharing government
information with the public, especially
marginalised communities to improve their
living standards. Through a multi-media
strategy, the Ministry reached more than
24 000 people who were mobilised to action
and informed of various issues on HIV/AIDS.
More than 103 video shows on HIV/AIDS
were shown in various regions.
Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah cited challenges
facing the Ministry as the lack of
accommodation for staff, saying that for
more than ten years the staff of the Ministry
has been scattered over the city, which
makes proper control, coordination and
management difficult.
The Ministry suffered a heavy blow when
the Turnhalle Annex, that houses two
directorates of the Ministry, was flooded,
forcing staff to share offices and find
accommodation elsewhere in different parts
of town. The Ministry is in need of additional
funds to enable it to operate efficiently and
effectively and redouble its efforts to meet
its mandate under Vision 2030.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Labour matters to be addressed

The unemployment rate in Namibia stands at 37% and poverty continues to persist among the working
force. Discrimination on the basis of race, gender and disability still persist in companies and institutions of
employment. In order to address issues of unemployment, labour, poverty and discrimination, the Ministry
of Labour and Social Welfare has requested the approval of a budget of N$786 276 000 for the 2007/2008
financial year. Hon. Alpheus G. !Naruseb, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, presented the budget of the
Ministry in the National Assembly on the 16 April 2007.
must implement the Act. For the process employment in the construction industry is
to function, the Ministry requires funds for not implemented fully.
human resources and for the purchase of
equipment. Efforts are being made to improve
communication and cooperation between
The Ministry received over 10 300 labour the Ministry and its social partners and
complaints in the 2006/2007 financial period. stakeholders. The Ministry will organise a
Of these 6 500 were amicably resolved with labour conference in 2007/2008 financial
assistance of labour inspectors. Despite the year with the aim to promote harmonious
shortage of personnel, occupational health labour relations and social dialogue as part
and safety investigation were carried out of its national development strategy.
at a number of companies. To deal with
Hon. Alpheus Naruseb Minister of problems facing labour in the country, The Ministry is concerned about the problem
Labour and Social Welfare two labour market surveys, Child Activities of exploitative labour hire practices. At

T he Ministry is addressing the issue

of affirmative action through the
Employment Equity Commission, which has
a legal basis to enforce it. The Affirmative
Action coverage was lowered since July
2006 from employers with 50 employees to
employers with 25 employees with the aim
to capture broad-base companies, which
Survey, and the Namibia Occupational Skills
Assessment Survey, were conducted during
the 2006/2007 financial year.
The Ministry faces constraints and obstacles
in its efforts to address labour problems.
Currently, the compliance with the minimum
wage agreement and basic conditions of
present the policy and regulative framework
is inadequate. This makes it difficult for the
Ministry to take action against labour brokers
whose practices avoid adherence to the
Labour Act. The new Labour Act is expected
to give greater protection of employees
employed by labour hire companies.

Land is cardinal factor of production

The Ministry of Land and Resettlement has sought a budget of N$140 million for the 2007/2008 financial
year to finance its activities related to land reform, resettlement and survey. During the last financial year
the Ministry has surveyed 16 resettlement farms to establish boundaries for the resettlement allotment units
for each beneficiary to know exactly the limits of their farming units. The Ministry is to step up the process of
surveying to keep pace with increase in farm purchases.

I n line with its mandate, the Ministry has

purchased 45 farms of more than 319 000
hectares, at a cost of N$60 million, in the
past financial year, as compared to 19 farms
valued at N4144, 630 in the 2005/2006
financial year. Out of the 45 farms acquired,
five of them were expropriated.
in resettlement and the results are
being assessed before suggestions for
improvements are made. Infrastructure
instance, in the 2006/2007 financial year
N$29 million was collected to supplement
the N$50 million, the annual Government
development in the farms is also considered contribution to land purchase and
to support efforts, especially, to the San infrastructure improvements.
communities.

Currently, there are 70 families resettled

on 35 farms, measuring 379 921 hectares.
The families require enormous assistance
in the management of their newly acquired
properties. The majority of them are to be
assisted in acquiring knowledge, skills and
resources in order to exploit the land in a
productive and sustainable manner. The
Ministry’s role is to enhance capacity among
the resettled beneficiaries and improve
support programmes to ensure sustainability
for them to contribute meaningfully to the
overall agricultural production.
The Ministry has commissioned studies
to assess the economics of land use
Fourteen houses were built at
resettlement projects in Okongo and
13
Tsintsabis, in the last fincial year, in
efforts to alleviate accommodation
shortages in those communities.
The Ministry is also planning to
resettle the Hai// /om group around
Etosha.
Since the programme of land
reform and resettlement requires
huge financial resources before it
becomes a success, tax collected
from the commercial agricultural
land continues to benefit the
resettlement programme. For Land for the people
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Local diamond manufacturing to boost national

economy
Namibia is set to establish a diamond cutting and polishing hub. An agreement was reached between the
Ministry of Mines and Energy and De Beers recently, agreeing to supply diamonds to local factories in order
to grow and establish diamond cutting and polishing factories in the country. This move disregards the belief,
in the diamond circles, that Namibia should not “dare go into diamond manufacturing” because the country
cannot compete with countries such as China and India with low labour costs.

I n his budget speech, Hon. Erkki Nghimtina,

Minister of Mines and Energy said that the
Ministry has been encouraged by the idea
that with the unique high quality diamonds,
Namibia can produce premium quality cut
diamonds for niche markets.
With the cutting and polishing diamond
industry in the country, Namibia is ready
and is on the verge of taking up its rightful
place in the international diamond fraternity.
“We will not stop there. Our strategy is to
go as further downstream as possible – into
jewellery manufacturing and into branding of
Namibian diamonds and share in the value
addition throughout the pipeline,” said Hon.
Nghimtina.
Namibia will do what it can to protect the
diamond patrimony and the image of the
diamonds which represent love, beauty and
commitment from the threats of smugglers,
unscrupulous elements and conflict
diamonds. Namibia refuses to keep the status
quo of continuing exporting all raw materials
and has opted to do the manufacturing of
its minerals, goods and services so that their
quality would be enhanced to be competitive
in both the local and the international
markets for profitable incomes. In the age
of improved technologies, knowledge and
skills, Namibia cannot afford to lag behind
and keep its economy dependent on others
for survival due to unfair deals and conditions
in the world market where they are currently
sold.
Speaking at the celebration of De Beers
Marine Namibia, marking the recovery of
1 million carats worth of diamonds from
the Atlantic Ocean, President Hifikepunye
Pohamba reiterated that as a custodian of the
natural heritage on behalf of the Namibian
people, the state has a duty to ensure
that benefits from the natural resources
are used for the benefit of all Namibian
citizens. Local manufacturing of diamonds
will provide the people with jobs, knowledge
and skills, which will carry the country’s
development aspirations forward. The recent
consultations and negotiations between the
government and De Beers has culminated in
the establishment of the Namibia Diamond
Trading Company (NDTC).
“It is our hope that this new agreement will
boost the performance of local cutting and
polishing factories, increase the skills levels of
Namibians in this crucial field and improve the
profitability and competitiveness of the local
mining industry in general,” noted president
Pohamba. Another agreement with NAMDEB
allows 16% of the company’s production of
cuttable diamonds mined in Namibia to be
sold to local diamond cutting and polishing
factories. The Ministry requested for the
approval of a total amount of N$96 439 000
for the financial year 2007/2008 to meet
its objectives in line with all the national
planning tools, including Vision 2030.

Decentralisation - roadmap to regional and

local development
In order to make its goals of Vision 2030 a reality, the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing
and Rural Development, through its programme Regional and Local Government Coordination, has embarked
upon various activities aimed at establishing and developing effective regional, and local governments
that will bring government closer to the people, capable of delivering services to the satisfaction of all
communities through the processes of decentralisation.

14
B y doing this, the Ministry has decided,
in addition to the old structures, to
proclaim new second local authorities, in
communities where there is only one local
authority, in order to address imbalances in
accessing municipal services in the regions.
In this effort, Ruacana , Oshikuku and
Okahaho were proclaimed as local authority
areas in the financial year 2005/2006 and
the Ministry is currently assisting with the
establishment of the administrative structures
of the council in the newly proclaimed local
authority of Nkurenkuru. The Ministry will
proclaim Otjinene in the Omaheke and
Omuthiya in the Oshikoto regions respectively
as local authority areas during the 2007/2008
financial year and is busy with the building of
urban infrastructures in the two settlements.
Plans are underway to proclaim areas such as
Bukalo in the Caprivi region, Divundu in the
Kavango region, Oranjemund and Assenkerhr
in the Karas region as local authorities. The
Ministry’s budget will also be earmarked at
building regional capacity to provide services
in the declared settlement areas on cost
recovery principle to ensure the balancing
of their operational income and expenditure.
Currently the Ministry is assisting weak
local authorities which are unable to meet
their financial obligations with a range of
initiatives. In all its efforts, the Ministry is
striving to meet the challenges of poverty
reduction and equity provision by addressing
the current high unemployment rates in
most settlements and local authority areas.
It is currently assisting in the implementation
of community based income-generating
and employment creation activities, the
training of staff, the formulation of a new
subsidy policy, the revamping of dilapidated
infrastructure and undertake comprehensive
assessment of financial operation and the
infrastructure status in the areas before
the process of proclamation is started. The
Trust Fund for Regional and Development
and Equity Provision is also playing a vital
role in the infrastructure development of the
areas. The fund has been financing major
capital projects such as the rehabilitation
of the municipal infrastructures, including
sewerage systems, oxidation ponds,
construction of municipal roads and other
services aimed at promoting municipal
services in local authorities and settlements.
Some of the major projects financed by
the fund were the construction of the
Warmbad Tourist Centre in the Karas
region and the rehabilitation of the
Ondangwa Sewerage System in the Oshana
region during the 2006/2007 financial
year to the tune of N$32, 000 000.
During the same financial year the Ministry
provided funds towards the construction
of two traditional authority offices namely;
Ondonga and the Vaalgras Traditional
Authorities, including installation of

Continues on page 18

Health care, rehablitation, integration and
community Service for prison inmates
The Ministry of Safety and Security has sought approval for a budget of N$212 million to fund activities of the
Department of the Namibian Prisons Services for the financial year 2007/2008.
T he Namibian Prison Services
wants N$194,7 million for the safe
custody of offenders, out of which
N$125 3 million will go to personnel
expenditure. It also requested
N$21,2 million for the construction
of projects such as Farm Scott
Open Prison Farm, the Namibian
Prison Service Training College in
Omaruru, upgrading of Elizabeth
Nepemba Juvenile Rehabilitation
Centre and renovation activities.
The Rehabilitation programme will
receive N$14 697 000, of which N$5
272 000 will be spent on specialized
personnel and N$6 268 000 on
transport, training workshops,
materials and gratuities for offenders.
A total amount of N$484 000 is
allocated to the reintegration programme
under which the Department will embark on
public awareness campaigns to make the
public understand its work and services. To
render the services efficiently and effectively,
the Department will identify and assess core
services and support in the community
to form part of the programme. Training
workshops on risk assessment for conditional
release decisions will also be conducted for
the members of the various release boards.
The Department will also allocate N$2 313
000 to personnel to run the Poverty Reduction
Criminals in the net
Out of 84 497 crimes reported in 2006 only 28 162 cases were dealt with in court, 17 482 were withdrawn, 35
832 were unresolved and 382 were closed as false. The account was reported by the Deputy Minister of Safety
and Security, Hon. Gabes Shihepo, when he presented the budget of his Ministry in the National Assembly on
18 April 2007.
I n 2006, the police arrested 31 765
suspects all of whom appeared in court.
A total of 71 411 people were victims of
crimes, 1 268 less than in 2005. Theft
topped the list of crimes committed in 2006.
There were less serious crime cases, 12 725,
in 2006, than the 12 904 cases reported
in 2005, with housebreaking at residential
premises remaining the most committed
serious crime cases recorded countrywide.
Of the 12 725 serious cases reported, 5
848 were committed in Khomas, 1 402
in Erongo and 1 121 in Oshana regions.
An increase of 41 out of 383 cases,
involving armed robbery, were reported
in 2006 compared to the previous year.
Government Information Bulletin June 2007
The Namibian Police
Programme, while N$875 000 will be spent
on agricultural inputs and N$120 000
allocated to the maintenance of farming and
workshop implements and other equipment.
Presenting the budget in the National
Assembly, Deputy Minister of Safety and
Security, Hon, Gabes Shihepo, noted
that the prison services have many
responsibilities and there is a need for more
funds to finance the activities and meet
obligations in health care, rehabilitation,
reintegration and community service.
The police investigated 50 cases of illegal
possession of unpolished diamonds, seized
766 carats, with a value of N$4 289 825
and arrested 76 persons as a result.
The police have uncovered a motor vehicle
syndicate operating mainly in the Khomas
region. As a result, all routes through which
the vehicles are smuggled were identified
and investigated. A total of 592 cases of
vehicle theft were recorded in 2006, and
seven Namibian vehicles were recovered
in Angola through a cross-border operation
“Palanca Negra”. This project targets motor
vehicle theft in Angola and Botswana.
The vehicles are about to be repatriated.
From October 2006 to February 2007 138,
Currently Namibia has more than 4
000 prisoners, with overcrowding
of 5%, making it difficult to
manage prison institutions.
Other things that fall short are
clothing, bedding and medication.
The Deputy Minister emphasized
that health care services in prison
are costly as some prisoners arrive
with existing health problems
such as TB, HIV/AIDS, diabetics,
asthma, hypertension, skin diseases
and malaria. More than 1 500
inmates had been referred to state
hospitals for treatment in 2006.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a major
concern. Although the exact figure
of HIV/AIDS cases in prison is
not known, by March 2007 there
were 339 people living with HIV/AIDS.
One third of these prisoners is on anti-
retroviral treatment. Since the burden of
medication cost lies wholly on government,
the Ministry needs their budget allocation
to cater for the health of the inmates.
The Ministry is training trainers of trainers
to impart skills to inmates on various fields,
enabling them to join the working force upon
their release. Some people who were released
from prisons have started businesses and
are providing jobs to community members.
15
cases of motor vehicle theft were reported in
the Khomas region alone. Only 30 vehicles
were recovered and 17 suspects arrested.
The Deputy Minister also reported commercial
cases of fraud, tax evasion, VAT, passport,
ATM, electronic transfer of funds fraud cases
and contravention of the Bank of Namibia
Act of 1998 (Act No. 2 of 1998). Of the 57
arrests made, including 19 foreign nationals,
only 17 persons have been convicted.
The Deputy Minister sought approval for
a budget of N$976 466 000 for 2007/2008
financial year, of which N$924 576 000 is for
operational and N$51 890 000 for development
projects of the Department of Police.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007
If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it
Plans are at an advanced stage to conduct the first ever business establishment census in the country to enable
an insight understanding of the business industry for better planning and development facilitation.
T he Ministry of Trade and Industry sees it
important to drive viable business projects
in order for them to yield profitable incomes.
Statistics and database are the catalysts of
development. They are the indicators of
economic viability, validity and relevance.
They inform developers and industrialists of
focus areas.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Bureau
of Statistics, provides industrial statistics
database as tools to direct planning and
make informed decisions for development
On its road towards the attainment of
Vision 2030, the Ministry has identified
resource-based areas with economic growth
potential. During the 2006/2007 financial
Veterans Affairs tables it’s first budget
Minister of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Ngarikutuke Tjiriange tabled the first ever budget of N$22.986 million for the
newly created Veterans Affairs Ministry in the National Assembly on 16 April 2007.
M otivating his budget in the National
Assembly, Dr. Tjiriange said Namibia
had been trying since independence to
address the needs of its veterans. Due to
the considerable resource constraints and
economic difficulties with the re-
integration of veterans, the need
for an institution to continuously
address their needs had become
apparent.
The Ministry of Veterans Affairs
was, therefore, established on 4
October 2006 to provide client-
centred services and benefits that
respond to the needs of veterans
and their families. This is done
in recognition of their services to
Namibia, and most importantly
to keep the memory of their
16 achievements and sacrifices alive
for all Namibians.
The Ministry is still busy putting
up its structures and developing
a strategic plan, which will give
the necessary direction to enable
it to implement its programmes.
Therefore, its budget of N$22.986
million is only for operational
activities. Once its structures are
in place, the Ministry will be able
to determine its development
priorities for submission to the
National Planning Commission
and the Ministry of Finance for
funding.
In the mean time, the Ministry has
identified three major operational
year the Ministry identified several areas for
development in different economic sectors
such as agro-based processing, hospitality
industry, handcrafts, leather products and
gemstones cutting and polishing.
Since there is high interest in investing
and developing these sectors, feasibility
studies will be undertaken to determine the
financial, economic and technical viability of
these resources.
The in-depth sector specific feasibility studies
will be aimed at determining development
opportunity areas for exploitation and to
produce sectoral profiles with appropriate
information for efficient and speedy decision-
making by existing and prospective investors.
programmes. For its programme on social
welfare, human resources, training and
skills development an amount of N$6.914
million is needed for the administration and
management of the social welfare benefits
Hon. Dr. Ngarikutuke Tjiriange,
Minister of Veterans Affairs
It will also look at development planning at
central and regional government levels.
Presenting the budget in the National
Assembly on the 24 April 2007, Hon.
Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Minister of Trade
and Industry, narrated the developments
that took place in the trade and industry
sector during 2006/2007 financial year and
highlighted the programmes to be financed
in the 2007/2008 financial year.
The Ministry requested approval for a
total amount of N$126,4 million to fund
interventions to promote business activities,
in view of the provisions of creating an
industrialised nation by the year 2030.
and needs of veterans. The funds will
also be used to initiate income generating
programmes and projects to support the
social welfare of veterans, while a training
needs assessment will also be carried out
to enable trainable veterans to
set up self-help projects. For its
identification, registration and
regional control programme, the
Ministry needs N$9.070 million to
compile a register of all veterans
and to maintain a National
Register and also to conduct a
proper needs benefit analysis and
grouping of veterans according to
their specific categories.
Documenting the important history
of the national liberation struggle
is an activity that will be addressed
under the Ministry’s programme
of history information and project
research, for which an amount of
N$7.002 million is needed. To
properly document the history of
the liberation struggle, research
must be done to collect primary
date through personal interviews
with those who were physically,
psychologically and emotionally
affected by the war.
According to Dr. Tjiriange, the
documentation of the liberation
struggle will help to improve
the understanding of the history
of the liberation struggle by
veterans, as well as the citizens of
the country.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Road network connects rural communities

To meet the challenges of linking people, Namibia has embarked on infrastructure network development, which
would enable the country’s citizens to connect with each other and be in contact with neighbouring countries
and the rest of the world.

T he Namibian government has invested is busy constructing feeder roads to connect

heavily in the development of various
transport corridors such as the Trans
Kalahari, Trans Caprivi, and Trans Kunene
with the aim to create linkages between
Namibia’s economic centres and harbours
to its neighbouring countries, as part of
the SADC economic integration initiatives.
These initiatives are to promote economic
investments and growth, including tourism
both within the country, in the region and
beyond.
Apart from the regional connectivity with
other SADC states, the Ministry of Works,
Transport and Communication (MWTC) has
been developing road infrastructure in the
rural parts of the country. The construction
of roads and the improvement in the safety
of transportation of goods and people are
also seen as important components in value
addition to the standard of living of the people.
The construction of road infrastructure in
the rural areas also helps to reduce poverty
among the people through the provision of
jobs and the boosting of food supply from
one place to another. Currently, the MWTC
rural communities to district roads - a sure
way to enable people to transport their
produce to the market centres with the aim
to improve trade network and relationships
among communities.
During the 2007/2008 financial year, the
Ministry will concentrate on the construction
and rehabilitation of the 204 km Kamanjab-
Omakange, Rundu-Siko-Nkurenkuru-Elundu,
Okahandja-Karibib and Gam-Eiseb-Otjinene-
Epukiro roads, which will require government
spending of N$288 490 000. Minister of Works, Transport and Communication
Hon. Joel Kaapanda
In order to meet the country’s needs in
utilization in order to enhance road safety
this regard, people, as private or individual
on the country’s road network. Therefore,
contractors, are also encouraged to
the MWTC is also investing money in the
participate in the construction of roads. The
construction of vehicle and driver testing
Ministry is conducting training for Small and
centres, to ensure safety to lives and proper
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to equip people
maintenance of the life-span of roads. The
with information on how they can participate
current financial year will see the construction
and benefit from road construction projects
of Vehicle and Driver Testing Centres in
and they are also enlightened on how to
Oranjemund and Lüderitz and the upgrading
tender for and run profitable businesses.
of those in Windhoek, Okahandja, Outjo and
The provision of infrastructure also requires
Grootfontein.
efforts to maintain them, ensure their proper

Government properties worth N$ 18 billion

As a custodian of Government assets, entrusted to manage and be accountable for all the properties of the
government around the country, the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication has now taken measures
to establish a reliable Fixed Asset Register, This will enable the Ministry to manage Government properties
efficiently and to stamp out the current illegal occupation of government houses and flats.

T his resulted from a survey that was

undertaken countrywide to compile
information and records on government
properties. The Ministry has been instructed
by Cabinet to enlist the services of an IT
financial year, the Ministry has made progress
to introduce a system through which tenants
in the government houses would be charged
at new tariffs of N$400,00 (4% of salary)
to be concluded between the government
and the tenant. The agreement will oblige the
tenant to care and look after the property,
failure of which will result in the eviction of
the tenants from the quarters.

“Ministry earned
expert to set up the Asset Register System
which would be linked to the Ministry
of Finance to monitor and control the
The Ministry will fight tooth and nail to
discourage the deeply rooted habit of illegal 17
deductions of rentals from civil servants
occupying government houses and flats. N$143 million transfer of keys between officials.

through alienation
The government owns properties worth a
The Ministry has recorded success in the total of 18 billion Namibian dollars and it

recovery of government flats and houses
from illegal occupants and will leave no
stone unturned in further recovering all
government properties from illegal hands.
The Ministry has been authorized by the
Tender Board to purchase the software that
is compatible with other systems, to which
the Ministry would be linked for integration
of the data on properties. The approval was
effected, following the recommendation of
the Inter-Ministerial Committee of IT experts
from the Office of the Prime Minister and line
ministries. To start the process in 2007/2008
of 579 government
houses”
for single quarters and N$600,00 (6% of
salary for 2 – 3 bedroom house or flat) or
8% of salary for family quarters comprising
4 bedrooms.
To be considered for accommodation in a
government house or flat, an agreement has
is a challenge to maintain them with the
current annual budget allocation to the
MWTC. To reduce this burden, the Cabinet
gave directives for some of the properties to
be sold out. Through the Housing Alienation
Scheme, 579 houses have been sold and
earned the government a revenue of N$143
million.
Under the “Operation Clean up”, that makes it
possible to get rid of redundant, abandoned,
disused, worn-out, and damaged items and
vehicles, more than N$25 000 000 00 was
realized from 70 auctions conducted so far
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Youth exposure, experience, capacity building

vital for nation building
There is a wise saying that says that the nation without the youth is lacking a future. Equally so, if the nation
does not care, protect and prepare its youth for the future then it is lacking continuity. The Ministry of Youth,
National Service, Sport and Culture is responsible for the empowerment, encouragement and support to the
youth to ensure their full and effective participation in national development.

O ut of the total proposed budget, N$205

869 000, for the 2007/2008 financial
year, N$173 191 000 is for the operational
The youth also receive
training in environmental
education through
and N$32 678 000 is for the development awareness workshops and
projects, with an overall increase of 8.41% seminars. They are trained
on the allocation of the previous financial on sustainable utilisation of
year. natural resources.

The money for the 2007/2008 financial year, Unemployment is a big

as in the previous year, will be apportioned
to various areas of development priority
programmes, such as youth development,
youth opportunities, sport, arts and culture,
in which areas the Ministry is currently
boasting achievements.
Under the youth volunteerism, the Ministry
employed twenty five youth volunteers at
Berg Aukas to assist with the debushing of
355 hectares of an agricultural farm and
another 34 volunteers were spread all over
the thirteen regions, in the last financial
year, to participate in different assignments.
The programme has helped the volunteers to
raise and generate money which they have
invested in self-employment activities.
The youth involved in programmes of the
Ministry are accorded opportunities to join
training workshops and seminars where they
are being empowered with life skills in areas
such as reproductive heath, family planning,
HIV testing, pre-testing and post-counseling
that affect them in their daily lives.
problem among the youth.
To address the problem,
the youth are allowed
to take part in initiatives
that would improve their
financial status. Under the
programme, Youth Credit
Initiative, 732 unemployed
youth were trained since
the start of the programme in 2005 with 820
of them receiving loans for self-employment
initiatives.
To find solutions to the unemployment
rate among the youth, a pilot programme
was designed and implemented in the
Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions.
An amount of N$650 000 was disbursed
to the youth, in a form of small loans, to
enable them to start up businesses and
income-generating projects. As a result, the
recipients of these small loans have created
employment for between 1500 and 1800
unemployed youth through 379 businesses.
The small loans have helped the recipients to
The youth in action
set up businesses ranging from retail shops
tailoring to hawkers and mahangu milling.
With regard to the success of these pilot
initiatives, the programme will be replicated
in the Kavango, Kunene and Caprivi regions
with effect from the current financial year.
The programme is supported financially by
the government, Social Security Commission
and the Commonwealth Youth Programme.
Opportunities are also offered to the youth
to participate in business innovations and
entrepreneurs in agriculture, fish farming
and aquaculture. The exposure, experience
and capacity building have made it possible
for most of the youth to secure jobs.

Decentralisation - ECN allocated N$ 25.7

18 roadmap to regional and million for its activities
local development
Continues from page 19

The N$4.727 million allocated for voter education will be used to

Continues from page 14
computers at thirty-five offices of the 42 recognised traditional
authorities. Efforts are being made to provide computers to
the remaining 7 traditional authority offices. Training will be
provided to these authorities during the 2007/2008 financial year.
educate voters and to share voter information to increase citizens’
awareness and understanding of the electoral processes and to
ensure their participation in these processes. The conducting of
countrywide voter education is in line with the election require-
ments in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
to which Namibia also subscribes.
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007

Anti-Corruption Commission gets more money

The government’s political will to fight corruption has been demonstrated through the allocation of N$11.258
million to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which represents an increase of N$4.679 million from the previous
year.

T his view was expressed by In also engaged in the countrywide

the Deputy Prime Minister,
Dr. Libertina Amathila, when she
motivated the budget of the Anti-
Corruption Commission in the
National Assembly on 16 April 2007.
The budget of the Anti-Corruption
Commission is considered separately
because of the statutory requirement
that its operations should be
independent.
In terms of the Anti-Corruption Act,
2003 (Act No 8 of 2003) the two main
objectives of the Commission are to
ensure that allegations of corrupt
practices are properly investigated Mr. Paulus Noa Director of Anti-Corruption Commission
and to establish and implement
measures to prevent corruption.
An amount of N$6.755 million has been
allocated to the Anti-Corruption Commission
to ensure the investigation of allegations
of corruption, while N$4.503 million will be
used to implement measures to prevent
corruption and to conduct public educational
campaigns on corruption.
The public education campaigns are
necessary to enlist public confidence and
support in fighting corruption in Namibia.
During the 2006/07 financial year, the
Anti-Corruption Song Project
together with Women’s Action for
Development and other corporate
partners to raise awareness on
corruption and to ensure that the
Namibian public reports corrupt
practices and strive towards an anti-
corruption culture nationwide.
In fulfilling its public education
function, the Commission addressed
several organisations and institutions,
such as the Namibian Employers’
Federation, the National Institute
Adv. Erna Lorrain van der Merwe, Deputy Director and for Educational Development, the
Polytechnic of Namibia, De Beers
Marine Namibia (Pty) Ltd and the
Commission recruited some administrative
Patrick Iyambo Police College during the
staff and junior investigators. In the current
previous financial year.
financial year, the Commission will recruit
more staff for its newly approved structure
Staff of the Commission also attended
and acquire additional office space to
special training in Swaziland and Botswana,
accommodate the additional staff. It will
while it also received a grant from the United
also appoint special investigators to conduct
Nations Democracy Fund to strengthen the
special operations and establish one or more
capacity of the Anti-Corruption Commission
offices in the regions.
to fulfil its mandate in terms of the enabling
legislation. Members of the Commission also
In the previous financial year, the
attended various meetings of anti-corruption
Commission embarked on Namibia’s Zero
authorities in Austria, the United Kingdom,
Tolerance for Corruption campaign together
Mauritius, China, Guatemala, Zambia and
with the Namibia Institute for Democracy.
South Africa.

ECN allocated N$ 25.7 million for its activities

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) received a budget allocation of N$25.709 million for the 2007/08
financial year to hold elections and to conduct voter education. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr.
Theo-Ben Gurirab motivated the ECN budget in the National Assembly on 17 April 2007.

I n his budget motivation, the Speaker

said that due to financial constraints
facing the country, the ECN had submit-
ted a rather conservative budget in the
National Assembly.
The Electoral Commission will use
N$20.982 million for the holding of elec-
tions, including by-elections, continuous
voter registration, updating of the voters
register, computerisation of ECN logistics
and local authority elections. Another
N$4.727 million will be used for voter
education.
The holding of regular elections in accord-
ance with the Electoral Act, (Act No 24 of
1992) is the main programme of the ECN
to ensure good governance and concretise
democracy. The budget provides for the
holding of by-elections in the event of the
Voting, People exercising their demoratic rights
resignation or death of a member of a re-
gional council. Continuous voter registration
also takes place to capture information on
persons who have turned 18 and those who
have changed their names or relocated from
one constituency to another. The continuous
updating of the registers of both national
and local authorities is also important
to ensure that they contain reliable and
19
correct information.
The computerisation of the ECN logistics
will enable the Commission to keep track
of all election material, while also indi-
cating when replacement of material is
necessary.
The ECN will also spend N$6 million to
buy electronic voting machines (EVMs)
to be used during future Presidential,
National Assembly and Regional Coun-
cils elections. More EVMs will be purchased
in the next financial year. It is envisaged
that the EVMs will speed up the voting proc-
ess and the determination of results, thus
greatly improving the electoral process in
Namibia.
Continues on page 18
 Government Information Bulletin June 2007
National Assembly hosts children’s model
Parliament
The National Assembly has created a platform for children. The Children’s Model Parliament session took place
from 13 - 19 May 2007 in Windhoek. The platform is aimed at exposing today’s children to the workings of
parliament for tomorrow’s world leadership. Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, Speaker of the National Assembly, first
made the announcement when he motivated the National Assembly budget on 17 April 2007 and opened the
session on 14 May 2007.
“Learning is a continuous process and it is
imperative that we should harness, nurture,
support and develop provision of knowledge
by utilising best practices from others”, Dr.
Gurirab said on the holding of the Children’s
Model Parliament.
According to Dr. Gurirab, the N$68.425
million allocated to the National Assembly
will be used to implement the Assembly’s
programmes on the enhancement of the
Parliamentary Process and the Consolidation
of Democracy.
An amount of N$1.098 million on the
Assembly’s capital budget will be used to
make the parliament building and its facilities
accessible for members of the public,
especially people living with disabilities.
Under the enhancement of the Parliamentary
process, the National Assembly will oversee
the administration of the House and carry
out its activities at the national, regional
and international levels. It will also ensure
the enactment of legislation, facilitate the
National Council to strengthen democracy
To enhance Parliamentary processes and strengthen Parliamentary democracy, the National Council has been
allocated N$31.627 million for the 2007/08 financial year.
U nder its programme to enhance
Parliamentary processes, the National
Council will use N$15.431 million to get
quality input from the public into the law
making process and to improve the quality
of parliamentary debates in the Chamber.
20 The programme includes the acquisition
of recording equipment for the timely
production of the Hansard, Parliamentary
reports and minutes of proceedings with the
ultimate aim to ensure the timely passage
of Bills that are brought before the National
Council for review.
Under this programme, research, information
and technical support will be given to
members of the National Council to ensure
their debates are informed. The programme
will also allow Council members to attend
to international and regional obligations,
such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association, the Inter Parliamentary Union
and the Pan African Parliament.
The programme will also allow for the
availability of National Council debates
work of Portfolio Parliamentary Committees,
promote regular consultations between
Parliament and other branches of the
State and intensify Parliament’s outreach
programmes throughout the country.
The overall goal of the programme on the
Consolidation of Democracy is to facilitate the
work of members of the National Assembly
when they consider policy objectives and
public interest. This is done by organising
and coordinating all activities relating to
the sessions of the National Assembly
and its Portfolio Committees, and other
events, ensuring also that the public is well
informed.
According to Article 63 of the Namibian
Constitution, the primary task of Parliament
is to enact laws to ensure peace, order and
good governance.
During the previous financial year, the
approved budget for the National Assembly
turned out to be inadequate on account
in sign language and the printing of the
Hansard in Braille.
To create awareness and generate public
interest in the National Council activities,
the Council embarked on a programme
to strengthen Parliamentary democracy.
An amount of N$16.196 million has been
approved to among others facilitates public
participation in the law making process
through public hearings on Bills by Standing
or Ad Hoc Committees. The public is,
furthermore, educated on the work of the
National Council, while awareness is also
raised on the dangers posed by HIV/AIDS
as part of the Council’s national response to
this pandemic.
The distribution of Parliamentary publications,
the mobile training unit, conducting of
Parliamentary tours and participating in trade
fairs are also used as tools to strengthen
Parliamentary democracy.
The National Council aims to enhance the
capacity of its members to effectively review
of the ever increasing requirements of
Parliamentary oversight, electoral observer
missions and voter education in the region.
The work of Parliamentary Portfolio
Committees has increased significantly,
while the number of motions referred to
Parliamentary Portfolio Committees has also
increased. This resulted in resources being
exhausted before the end of the financial
year.
Its active involvement in regional
parliamentary relationships, such as the
SADC Parliamentary Forum, the Pan
African Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary
Union, the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association and ACP-EU also put strain on
the budgetary resources of the National
Assembly.
The National Assembly’s ICT infrastructure,
which hosts the Parliament website dates
back to 2001 and has come close to its
capacity. Resources are needed to replace
the current platform.
Bills referred to it by the National Assembly.
It also strives to increase the public’s interest
and participation in Parliamentary activities
and to improve interaction between the
National Council and Regional Councils.
In the 2006/2007 financial year, the National
Council reviewed the Appropriation Bill, the
Local Authorities Fire Brigade Service Bill, the
Additional Appropriation Bill, the Biosafety
Bill, the Electoral Amendment Bill and the
Financial Intelligence Bill. The National
Council also considered the Report of the
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Defence and Security on the Combating of
the Abuse of Drugs Bill and subsequently
passed the Bill with amendments as
recommended by the Committee in its
Report.
Human capacity building also received
attention and National Council members
attended a Legislative Training Workshop
and computer training and participated in
various regional and international training
workshops.