Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Iipumbu Shiimi said the allocation of N$6.8 billion to the administrative sector for the 2024/25 financial year is to support the effective governance and efficient administration of public services.

Shiimi, while tabling the national budget last week, said the administration sector received 7.8% of the budget allocations.

The budget of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development was increased by 37.6% to N$2.6 billion.

“This allocation includes N$250 million in FY2024/25 and N$175 million in FY2025/26 for the rollout of prepaid water and electricity meters in various local authorities as a long-term solution to the rising debt with Nampower and Namwater,” he stated.

The minister said an additional N$141 million has been allocated for the transformation of the Aus and Lüderitz local authorities to improve services because of the growing population driven by oil and gas exploration, as well as green hydrogen activities, in the //Kharas region.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia has been allocated N$438 million in the 2024/25 financial year to ensure smooth and timely voter registration, as well as to undertake the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for November this year. The public safety sector has been allocated N$15.4 billion, and about N$48 billion over the mid-term expenditure framework, and takes up 17.6% of the non-interest budget for the 2024/25 financial year. An amount of N$106 million has been allocated to the Anti-Corruption Commission, a 29.8% increase from the previous financial year. Shiimi said this increase is to help the ACC improve implementation capacity, particularly in combating anti-money laundering and financial crimes.

“Despite the recent greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force, we have made significant progress, and remain committed to address the outstanding action items for us to be removed from the grey list in the shortest time possible,” added the minister. - Nampa