Transport drives development budget ...

Transport clinched 31% of funds allocated for development in 2020/21.
Jo-Mare Duddy Booysen
Phillepus Uusiku - Sectors that have the potential to create employment and boost overall output such as the agricultural sector got a share of 8% in the development budget for 2020/21, compared to 12% in the 2019/20 budget, a decrease of 4 percentage points.

Iipumbu Shiimi, the new finance minister tabled the national budget of N$72.8 billion for the 2020/21 fiscal year in the National Assembly last Wednesday, the biggest budget in Namibian history. The 2019/20 financial year national budget stood at N$ 66.6 billion, an increase of 9.3%.

The transport sector maintained its top spot, accounting for a share of 31% in the development budget, the same percentage share as in the previous financial year.

The allocation is of no surprise as the sector intends on undertaking massive capital projects such as the upgrading and construction of railway lines, as well as the production and transportation of sleepers among other projects. This project is expected to cost N$200 million.

This project will ensure that Namibia has a sustainable transport system supporting a world class logistic hub connecting Southern African Development Community (SADC) to international markets, according to the budget.

Education

Education got the second biggest allocation, a 14% share of the development budget.

The sector rose from the 4th position in the 2019/20 fiscal year having been previously allocated a percentage share of 9%.

The allocation is expected to facilitate the installation of water tanks, renovation of ablution facilities and upgrading of hostel facilities in schools among other projects. This project is expected to cost N$600 million.

By doing so, this will ensure that all learners have access to equitable inclusive quality education that qualifies them to pursue higher education.

Water, health

The water sector replaced the health sector from the top five list of the most allocated sectors in the development budget.

This did not come as a surprise due to the costly completion of the Neckartal Dam which is expected to cost round about N$528 million in 2020/21.

The completion of this project will ensure that Namibia has a sustainable production and consumption of water resources resulting in improved access to safe drinking water for human consumption and industry use.

The health sector fell out from the top five list and received a share of N$17.5 billion in the recent tabled development budget for the 2020/21 financial year.

Rural and urban development

The urban and rural development sector moved one place down, being the fourth most allocated sector after water which received a percentage share of 9% of the development budget compared a share of 11% in the 2019/20 financial year.

One of the major projects expected to be undertaken in this sector is the bidding and construction of water, sewer, roads and electricity to ensure that Namibian households living in improvised houses are reduced. This massive project is expected to cost N$18 million.

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Namibian Sun 2024-05-04

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Premier League: Luton Town 1 vs 1 Everton | Chelsea 2 vs 0 Tottenham Hotspur LaLiga: Getafe 0 vs 2 Athletic Club SerieA: Torino 0 vs 0 Bologna Katima Mulilo: 13° | 32° Rundu: 12° | 31° Eenhana: 14° | 33° Oshakati: 15° | 32° Ruacana: 16° | 33° Tsumeb: 15° | 30° Otjiwarongo: 13° | 29° Omaruru: 12° | 31° Windhoek: 12° | 27° Gobabis: 15° | 28° Henties Bay: 15° | 21° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 06:39, High tide: 12:59, Low Tide: 18:48, High tide: 01:14 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 34km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 06:37, High tide: 12:57, Low Tide: 18:46, High tide: 01:12 Walvis Bay: 16° | 24° Wind speed: 39km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 06:37, High tide: 12:56, Low Tide: 18:46, High tide: 01:11 Rehoboth: 13° | 28° Mariental: 16° | 31° Keetmanshoop: 16° | 31° Aranos: 14° | 29° Lüderitz: 15° | 27° Ariamsvlei: 15° | 32° Oranjemund: 13° | 22° Luanda: 24° | 28° Gaborone: 14° | 28° Lubumbashi: 12° | 26° Mbabane: 14° | 30° Maseru: 10° | 24° Antananarivo: 11° | 23° Lilongwe: 15° | 28° Maputo: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 12° | 27° Cape Town: 14° | 19° Durban: 19° | 26° Johannesburg: 15° | 25° Dar es Salaam: 22° | 28° Lusaka: 15° | 28° Harare: 13° | 28° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.17 | EUR to NAD 19.9 | CNY to NAD 2.54 | USD to NAD 18.5 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.31 | EGP to NAD 0.38 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.67 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.64 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.22 | USD to DZD 133.95 | USD to AOA 834.06 | USD to BWP 13.64 | USD to EGP 47.9 | USD to KES 133.98 | USD to NGN 1379 | USD to ZAR 18.5 | USD to ZMW 27.1 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 76428.31 Up +0.50% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1700.24 Up +0.45% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 13403.47 Up +0.61% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 26113.71 Up +6.81% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 301.81/OZ DOWN -0.0011 | Copper US$ 4.53/lb UP +1.46% | Zinc US$ 2 924.30/T DOWN -0.08% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 83.49/BBP DOWN -0.0105 | Platinum US$ 955.87/OZ UP +0.28% Sport results: Premier League: Luton Town 1 vs 1 Everton | Chelsea 2 vs 0 Tottenham Hotspur LaLiga: Getafe 0 vs 2 Athletic Club SerieA: Torino 0 vs 0 Bologna Weather: Katima Mulilo: 13° | 32° Rundu: 12° | 31° Eenhana: 14° | 33° Oshakati: 15° | 32° Ruacana: 16° | 33° Tsumeb: 15° | 30° Otjiwarongo: 13° | 29° Omaruru: 12° | 31° Windhoek: 12° | 27° Gobabis: 15° | 28° Henties Bay: 15° | 21° Wind speed: 28km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 06:39, High tide: 12:59, Low Tide: 18:48, High tide: 01:14 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 34km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 06:37, High tide: 12:57, Low Tide: 18:46, High tide: 01:12 Walvis Bay: 16° | 24° Wind speed: 39km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 06:37, High tide: 12:56, Low Tide: 18:46, High tide: 01:11 Rehoboth: 13° | 28° Mariental: 16° | 31° Keetmanshoop: 16° | 31° Aranos: 14° | 29° Lüderitz: 15° | 27° Ariamsvlei: 15° | 32° Oranjemund: 13° | 22° Luanda: 24° | 28° Gaborone: 14° | 28° Lubumbashi: 12° | 26° Mbabane: 14° | 30° Maseru: 10° | 24° Antananarivo: 11° | 23° Lilongwe: 15° | 28° Maputo: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 12° | 27° Cape Town: 14° | 19° Durban: 19° | 26° Johannesburg: 15° | 25° Dar es Salaam: 22° | 28° Lusaka: 15° | 28° Harare: 13° | 28° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.17 | EUR to NAD 19.9 | CNY to NAD 2.54 | USD to NAD 18.5 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.31 | EGP to NAD 0.38 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.67 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.64 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.22 | USD to DZD 133.95 | USD to AOA 834.06 | USD to BWP 13.64 | USD to EGP 47.9 | USD to KES 133.98 | USD to NGN 1379 | USD to ZAR 18.5 | USD to ZMW 27.1 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 76428.31 Up +0.50% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1700.24 Up +0.45% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 13403.47 Up +0.61% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 26113.71 Up +6.81% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 301.81/OZ DOWN -0.0011 | Copper US$ 4.53/lb UP +1.46% | Zinc US$ 2 924.30/T DOWN -0.08% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 83.49/BBP DOWN -0.0105 | Platinum US$ 955.87/OZ UP +0.28%