Chamwe Kaira
The Ministry of Finance must work with Parliament to fast-track the Public Finance Management Bill to ensure that the country’s public debt remains sustainable, the chairperson of the Parliamentary standing committee on economy and industry, public administration and planning has said.
Shiimi called for close monitoring of Namibia’s reclassification by the World Bank to a lower-middle-income status.
He urged the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade to finalise and table the International Trade Management Bill and the Investment Promotion Bill while strengthening collaboration with the private sector to boost job creation.
These recommendations are contained in a report tabled in parliament by the committee, following a stakeholder interface and oversight workshop held in Swakopmund earlier this year and site visits to the Cleanergy Hydrogen Green Energy Plant and HyIron Green Energy Oshivela Plant.
Shiimi said the engagements offered valuable insights into economic reforms, industrialisation and public service management.
“The sustained cooperation of all stakeholders, coupled with Parliament’s robust oversight, will yield tangible outcomes for Namibia’s economic transformation agenda,” he said.
The committee made 42 key recommendations focusing on reforms to improve accountability and decision-making across sectors.
It called on the office of the prime minister to accelerate the digitisation of government services, review the Public Service Act of 1995, and strengthen performance management systems to reward excellence and address nonperformance.
It also urged a review of recruitment and promotion policies to prevent unfair “jumping of ranks” and ensure merit-based progression.
The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) and National Planning Commission (NPC) were advised to fast-track the rebasing of national accounts, conduct regular labour force surveys and develop mechanisms to measure the impact of laws passed by parliament.
The report further called on the Ministry of Works and Transport, TransNamib and the NPC to implement the Railway Master Plan and accelerate projects such as the Kranzberg–Otjiwarongo and Windhoek–Gobabis rail upgrades, as well as the Trans-Zambezi rail extension.
It encouraged expansion of the Walvis Bay and Lüderitz ports and urged the government to address land shortages in Lüderitz to support urban and industrial growth.
The committee also recommended stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector through a unified engagement platform.
It proposed a simplified visa and work permit process for professionals with critical skills in sectors such as green hydrogen, oil, and gas.
In its recommendations to the Bank of Namibia (BoN), the committee called for continued vigilance on inflation, careful management of gold investments, and swift completion of the impact assessment on banking fees and charges.
It also encouraged the bank to enable international payment gateways such as PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, which it said are vital for Namibia’s creative economy and youth entrepreneurs.
On energy, the committee directed the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Electricity Control Board and NamPower to present a comprehensive electricity plan within six months. The plan should ensure an affordable and secure power supply and promote investment in renewable energy such as solar and wind to achieve 80% household electrification by 2035.
Caption
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy and Industry, Public Administration and Planning wants the Public Finance Management Bill fast-tracked.
- Photo: Contributed
