Budget increased to nearly N$90 billion

Additional funds allocated
The preliminary revenue outturn at the end of September stood at N$40.1 billion, equivalent to 53.7% of the initial revenue projections in the budget.
Phillepus Uusiku
Overall expenditure for the financial year 2022/2023 has been revised upwards from the N$86.4 billion initially projected in February to N$89 billion. This was revealed by finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi yesterday in parliament when he tabled the mid-term review budget.

The operational budget was increased by N$2.5 billion to N$68.6 billion, compared to N$66.1 billion estimated in the main budget.

The development budget will remain unchanged at N$6.5 billion for the current financial period. However, the execution rate on the development budget at mid-year stood at 32.6%.

“As a result, we have reallocated a total of N$167.3 million from lagging projects to address urgent development priorities, including N$129.7 million to expedite the construction of classrooms countrywide,” Shiimi said.

Interest payments are projected to increase to N$11.8 billion, while government debt is estimated to reach N$153.8 billion in the current financial year.

Meanwhile, revenue is projected to increase to N$78.2 billion compared to the initial projection of N$74.4 billion in the main budget. This was due to a strong medium-term fiscal outcome, leading to an upward revision of revenues by N$3.8 billion.

The preliminary revenue outturn at the end of September stood at N$40.1 billion, equivalent to 53.7% of the initial revenue projections in the budget.

Reallocations

Shiimi noted that in the process of compiling the budget review, additional expenditure requests to the tune of N$5.3 billion were received for consideration.

A total of N$438.5 million has been added on the goods and services budgets of various votes, including N$250 million to supplement the pharmaceutical budget at the health ministry.

In addition, N$40 million was allocated to complement the special fund for uncommon diseases, N$25 million to the justice ministry to cover escalating legal costs and supplement the legal aid budget, as well as N$17 million to the environment ministry to support anti-poaching activities, Shiimi said.

A further N$14.5 million was allocated to the youth ministry for youth empowerment projects and the youth credit scheme.

Then, N$1.2 billion has been allocated to subsidies and other transfers to government organisations inclusive of N$376.3 million to cover shortfalls on funding at Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), he added.

Lastly, a total amount of N$230 million was allocated to support TransNamib’s operations, N$200 million to meet an anticipated deficit on the Public Servants Medical Aid Scheme (Psemas), N$105.3 million to supplement the contingency budget and N$87.5 million for Namibia’s contribution to the deployment of the SADC mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

No comments have been left on this article

Please login to leave a comment

Katima Mulilo: 20° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 37° Eenhana: 22° | 36° Oshakati: 25° | 35° Ruacana: 22° | 36° Tsumeb: 23° | 36° Otjiwarongo: 22° | 35° Omaruru: 23° | 36° Windhoek: 23° | 34° Gobabis: 23° | 35° Henties Bay: 14° | 19° Swakopmund: 14° | 16° Walvis Bay: 13° | 20° Rehoboth: 23° | 35° Mariental: 24° | 38° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 39° Aranos: 28° | 38° Lüderitz: 13° | 25° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 40° Oranjemund: 13° | 21° Luanda: 25° | 26° Gaborone: 22° | 36° Lubumbashi: 17° | 32° Mbabane: 18° | 31° Maseru: 16° | 32° Antananarivo: 17° | 31° Lilongwe: 22° | 33° Maputo: 23° | 31° Windhoek: 23° | 34° Cape Town: 17° | 27° Durban: 20° | 25° Johannesburg: 19° | 31° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 22° | 33° Harare: 21° | 31° #REF! #REF!