Budget delayed 'until further notice'

New finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi has announced that the tabling of the 2020/21 budget will be “delayed until further notice”.
Shiimi issued a statement saying the delay is the result of the state of emergency declared by president Hage Geingob as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“To ensure that government services are not interrupted, the minister of finance will apply section 9 of the State Finance Act, Act 31 of 1991, which provides for a continuation authorisation (utilisation of an amount not exceeding 33% of the appropriation for the preceding financial year, pending the passing of the Appropriation Act by Parliament,” Shiimi said.
One of the measures of the state of emergency is that a gathering is limited to ten or less people. Parliament has therefore been adjourned until further notice.
He requested all offices/ministries/agencies (OMAs) to abide by the continuation authorisation procedures and to continue applying prudent finance management measures during the period of the state of emergency and beyond.