Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698746059227.pdf (Namibia)
1 Contribution By HON.

EMILIA NUYOMA-AMUPEW A, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL AFFAIRS Date: 29 March 2018 Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Members I raise to support the Appropriation Bill as Tabled by the Minister of Finance Hon.

Calle Schlettwein.

Before I go to the main content of my paper I would like to start by quoting H.E.
The Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, DR. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, during His inaugural speech on 21st March 1990, he said: 2 "To the Namibian people, I would like to state on this solemn and historic occasion, that our nation blazed the trail to freedom.

It has risen to its feet.

As from today, we are the masters of this vast land of our ancestors.

The destiny of this country is now fully in our hands.

We should therefore look forward to the future with confidence and hope."
This message of hope is bestowed upon us as Members of Parliament to drive the process of hope to the hopeless by enacting implementable laws that are aimed to improve the people's livelihood.
As we celebrate 28 years of freedom, Honourable Members, we should tackle the challenges facing our society with determination and re-dedicate ourselves to fight the scourge of gender-based violence against girls and women, people with disabilities, inequality, poverty eradication, job creation especially for the young generation, to mention but a few.
3 We should remind ourselves that as leaders we are accountable and answerable to the people of Namibia regardless of our political affiliation to ensure that we enact implementable policies that echo their voices and allow them to achieve greater prosperity than what we experience now.

I would like also to echo the sentiments of His Excellency, President of the Republic of Namibia, Or.

Hage G. Geingob's clarion call that this August House "is first and foremost accountable to the Namibian People".
The Appropriation Bill under the theme "Shared Prosperity" as tabled on 7 March 2018, by the Hon.

Minister of Finance seeks to align resources to key priority areas and enhances long-term economic growth and social development.
I must commend, the Honourable Minister of Finance and his team for coming up with fair and robust budget which supports fiscal consolidation policy stance aimed at adjusting spending while boosting long-term economic growth, which is the most effective strategy to bring down the government deficit.

I welcome the focus of the Budget on allocating more resources in the social sectors such as education, health, skills development, poverty eradication, housing and sanitation.
4 Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Members It cannot be understated that Namibia has endured severe economic hardship in the last four years, created by the economic downturn globally, decrease in commodity prices and exchange rate fluctuations.
I would want to concur with the Honourable Minister of Finance that the successful implementation of a pro-growth fiscal consolidation program requires coordinated implementation of saving and spending measures, revenue mobilization and supportive policy structural reforms as a collective package.

However, I would like to stress that adequate resources are necessary, but effective governance and management are just as vital.
5 Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Members During the Budget statement tabled by the Minister of Finance, we have heard about the plans and programmes aimed at addressing many challenges facing our nation and achievements made during the financial year 2017/2018.

Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Members I would also like to bring to the attention of this August House, my concern about the Namibia's Public Service Wage Bill which continues to swallow the big chunk of the budget.
We need to ensure that strict control measures are put in place to adjust the wage bill to manageable level, because if it is allowed to continue as it is now, the potential to jeopardise the successful implementation of a pro-growth fiscal consolidation is imminent.
6 Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Members In conclusion, I would like to state that the SWAPO Party-led Government will continue to implement its visionary policies and programmes through the Harambee Prosperity Plan and NDP5, as key instruments of government in its pursuit to achieve goals of Vision 2030.

Honourable Deputy Speaker Honourable Members I support the Appropriation Bill of 2018/2019.

I thank you.