President Nangolo Mbumba has announced that 17 legislations were passed in 2024, as Cabinet held 22 decision-making meetings throughout the year, culminating in 320 Cabinet Decisions.
Providing a breakdown of these decisions on Wednesday, Mbumba revealed that 229 were policy initiatives, 32 addressed administrative matters, 42 were statutory submissions, and 17 were legislations.
“As we move towards the end of the work of this Cabinet, these should not just be numbers. Our decisions should translate into a better quality of life for Namibians,” the President said.
Mbumba stressed the importance of the decisions in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and eradicating poverty, with a strong focus on youth empowerment.
He urged Cabinet members to ensure the completion of key programs and initiatives before March 20, 2025.
Among the priority areas, he highlighted the Green Schemes, which he personally visited, as a critical initiative requiring immediate attention.
“We should implement policy and Cabinet decisions to stimulate economic growth and address bottlenecks that hinder service delivery to Namibians,” he said.
The President expressed confidence in Namibia’s economic prospects, particularly in sectors such as mining, oil and gas, critical raw materials, and green hydrogen.
He noted that the economy has successfully rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, with the non-mineral economy, particularly tourism, expected to generate employment opportunities in 2025 and beyond.
Among the 17 laws enacted, the Value-Added Tax Amendment Act raises the VAT registration threshold to N$1 million and modifies interest rates on overdue VAT amounts and refunds.
The Electoral Amendment Act permits public servants and members of the National Council, regional councils, or local authorities to be nominated on party lists for National Assembly elections.
Additionally, the Dissolution of Marriages Act replaces Namibia’s outdated fault-based divorce system with a new approach based on irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
With Cabinet’s term nearing its conclusion, Mbumba called on ministers to remain committed to implementing these legislative and policy decisions to ensure tangible benefits for all Namibians.
