Update on the implementation of the drought relief programme, 2023/2024 financial year

Cabinet authorised the Office of the Prime Minister to consider the revision of the commencement date for the livestock support programme to 01 July 2023, subject to the assessment of the number of affected farmers and financial implications thereof;

Cabinet approved that the drought relief programme be extended to families/individuals registered under the marginalised communities’ programme and the uncovered food bank beneficiaries until such food rations can be distributed on a monthly basis by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare;

Cabinet directed the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, in the interim, to provide the data of the marginalised communities and unregistered food bank beneficiaries to the Office of the Prime Minister in order to benefit from the drought relief programme;

Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare to consider the distribution of food for the marginalised communities on a monthly basis and to increase the food rations;

Cabinet approved that the Regional Councils should ensure that only households meeting the set criteria of beneficiaries are registered for drought relief food assistance;

Cabinet further approved that the Office of the Prime Minister (Directorate Disaster Risk Management) should provide resources to Regional Councils to ensure adequate human resources capacity for seamless administration of the drought relief programme;

Cabinet approved the provision of20kg maize meal bag monthly per household for the duration of the drought relief programme, replacing the 12.5 kg bag; and

Cabinet took note of the Introduction of Commodity and Beneficiaries Management Information System (CBMIS) to monitor and manage commodity movement and to assess whether rations reach the intended beneficiaries; and approved for the Office of the Prime Minister (Directorate Disaster Risk Management) to undertake a pilot project of the CBMIS.

Ratification of the agreement between Namibia and Cuba on the transfer of convicted persons

Cabinet granted approval for the Ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and the Government of the Republic of Cuba on the Transfer of Convicted Persons.

Draft Memorandum of Understanding (mou) between Namibia and Tanzania on the promotion of micro, small and medium enterprises development

(Submitted by the Minister of Industrialisation and Trade)

Cabinet took note of the proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania; and

Cabinet authorised the Minister of Industrialisation and Trade to sign the MoU on the Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development between the Governments of the Republic of Namibia and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Amendment of section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2014 (act no. 5 of 2014)

Cabinet approved, in principle, the proposed amendment of Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2014 (Act No. 5 of 2014);

Cabinet directed the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General to facilitate the proposed amendments for tabling in the National Assembly; and

Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to table the Amendment Bill in the National Assembly, once the amendment and certification have been finalised.