Staff Reporter
PENSIONERS will receive an additional N$100 from 1 April 2026.
This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Ericah Shafudah, who revealed that a total of N$447 million has been allocated to accommodate the increase in pensions for elderly people. She made the announcement in Parliament while presenting the Budget Statement for the 2026/27 financial year (FY).
The N$447 million forms part of the Ministry of Finance’s allocation of N$12.9 billion for FY2026/27. In addition to the pension increase, Shafudah said the ministry’s budget also makes provision for N$58 million to improve the remuneration structure of political office-bearers, and N$140 million for contingency provisions. She added that, over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the vote will receive a total allocation of N$39.2 billion.
The Ministry of Finance’s allocation falls under the economic and infrastructure sectors, which have been allocated 8% and 4%, respectively, of the total national budget, excluding interest payments.
“This commitment represents a contribution towards supporting productive sectors and infrastructure development to stimulate economic activity and growth. Overall, the commitment to infrastructure development increases when initiatives funded outside the budget are taken into account,” Shafudah said.
The minister also announced that the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources will receive N$1 billion in FY2026/27, of which N$579 million is allocated to the development budget. External funding includes N$257 million for rural water supply coverage and N$865 million for the construction of water security infrastructure.
She revealed the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform will receive N$1.8 billion, including a development budget of N$478 million. Over the MTEF, the minister added, the ministry will receive N$5.5 billion. In addition, it has secured external funding of N$218 million for agricultural mechanisation, seed improvement and the development of communal land for FY2026/27.
The minister further announced that a total of N$2.1 billion has been allocated to the transport sector, primarily for road infrastructure, and N$593 million to the works sector, which will also receive N$2.1 billion over the MTEF.
“It is worth noting that the transport sector is also funded through external loans and grants totalling N$1.6 billion, as well as fuel levies dedicated to the Road Fund Authority for the construction of critical roads, amounting to N$2.4 billion,” Shafudah said.
Regarding the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy, she said N$826.7 million has been allocated for FY2026/27. Of this amount, N$320 million constitutes the development budget, aimed at fast-tracking rural electrification and improving access to electricity countrywide.
Shafudah further revealed that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has been allocated N$682 million for FY2026/27, while the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism will receive N$736.8 million for the same financial year. The National Planning Commission has been allocated N$283 million for FY2026/27 and N$852 million over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
Photos: Government Institutions Pension Fund – GIPF/Ministry of Finance-Namibia
