Economic Association of Namibia to take deep budget dive

The Economics Association of Namibia will hold a pre-budget discussion and will look into how Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's government will administer Namibia's finances, just four days short of her inauguration on 21 March, its executive director, Cons Karamata announced.

According to Karamata, the national budget is a critical tool for governments to steer the economy and drive national development priorities. It serves as a blueprint for allocating resources to sectors with the potential for growth, job creation, and social upliftment. Through strategic government spending and tax policies, the budget can stimulate economic activities, encourage business growth, and foster prosperity.

"Namibia is at a pivotal moment in its history, with a change of government and the imminent inauguration of a new, female president. This transition is expected to usher in a new dispensation, with the state taking a more proactive role in the country’s development. The soon-to-be-tabled national budget will be introduced against this backdrop of significant change, raising important questions about its direction, priorities, and impact," Karamata said.

Against this background, the public discussion, organized in collaboration with the Capricorn Group, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, and High Economic Intelligence, aims to foster informed dialogue on the upcoming national budget. This discussion will provide a platform for stakeholders to critically examine the budget’s potential to address Namibia’s pressing economic challenges, Karamata explained.



Objectives of the Public Discussion

The pre-budget Public Discussion aims to:

Foster dialogue on the anticipated national budget and its alignment with the new administration’s development goals.

Explore key questions surrounding the budget, including its potential differences from previous budgets, its emphasis on social and infrastructure sectors, and its fiscal policy measures to stimulate job creation.



Key Discussion Themes

The Public Discussion will focus on the following critical questions:

How significantly different will the 2025 National Budget be from previous budgets?

How will the budget reflect the aspirations and development goals of the new administration?

Will there be a greater emphasis on social sector expenditure, such as education, health, and social welfare?



"As Namibia prepares for a new era under a new administration, the national budget will play a crucial role in shaping the country’s economic trajectory. This Public Discussion provides a timely opportunity to deliberate on the budget’s priorities, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring that it aligns with the aspirations of all Namibians," Karamata said.