Seven former Erongo Regional Council councillors claim the council owes them over N$1 million in unpaid accrued leave days, citing a 2022 government directive that allowed leave days to roll over. The council says payment authorisation rests with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and it is awaiting formal instruction to pay the remaining 100 leave days owed to each councillor.
Seven former Erongo Regional Council councillors claim the council owes them over N$1 million in unpaid accrued leave days, citing a 2022 government directive that allowed leave days to roll over. The council says payment authorisation rests with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and it is awaiting formal instruction to pay the remaining 100 leave days owed to each councillor.
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu says timber trade is a serious crime undermining lawful commerce and threatening biodiversity, not a regular trading practice. The government has launched a Wood Identification and Screening Centre in Windhoek with US support to detect illegal timber species and prosecute forest crimes using scientific methods.
The Namibia Revenue Agency is establishing a centralised e-commerce clearance centre to streamline online imports and address challenges faced by small and medium enterprises under the 'Order With Me' initiative, expected to be operational by 30 April.
Namibia's Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy monitors fuel quality and security through licensing, border enforcement, inspection, sampling, and inter-agency cooperation to prevent smuggled Angolan fuel from entering the retail system. The ministry conducts routine and random sampling at ports, depots, and service stations, and has installed aboveground storage tanks at police stations and arranged waste management with licensed providers to safely handle confiscated illegal fuel.
Namibia's Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy oversees fuel quality through licensing, border enforcement, and inspections, but faces persistent challenges from smuggled Angolan fuel known as 'Ngungula' sold at cheaper prices. The illicit trade has caused fuel retailers in affected northern regions to lose over N$230 million in revenue since 2016 and risks consumer safety through substandard fuel and environmental hazards.
Namibia's government has allocated key budgets for the 2026/27 financial year, with education receiving N$28.7 billion, health N$13.1 billion, and safety and security N$8.1 billion, while smaller allocations include N$181 million for the Electoral Commission and N$109 million for the Anti-Corruption Commission.
New Era's editorial supports the Tax Amnesty Programme, extended to 31 October 2026 with no further extensions, as a pragmatic fiscal instrument to regularise outstanding tax debts and strengthen revenue collection while protecting social spending on education, health, and security. The editorial frames amnesty as balancing compassion with accountability, arguing that converting unpaid taxes into active revenue reduces borrowing pressure and reinforces voluntary compliance within the broader 2026/27 budget framework.
The Finance Minister tabled the 2026/27 National Budget allocating N$1.9 billion to the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development, with N$744 million for developmental projects. The government reported progress in housing delivery through various programmes and is shifting key strategic projects to State-Owned Enterprises to maximise development funding.
Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah presented the FY 2026/27 Budget Statement allocating N$17 billion to the Safety and Security sector, with N$7.5 billion for defence and N$8.1 billion for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security. The allocation reflects the government's commitment to maintaining peace and security as foundations for economic growth, representing 19.5% of total expenditure excluding interest payments.
Minister of Finance Ericah Shafudah announced that N$54.3 billion has been allocated to the social sector in the 2026/27 budget, with N$28 billion for education and N$13.1 billion for health, representing 61.7% of total government spending and reflecting government commitment to human capital development and inclusive growth.