The new President has been particularly vocal on issues such as cutting back Government expenditure and curbing corrupt practices, but the Budget doesn't indicate much positive movement in this regard.

Commentators, such as the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), say there are not many indications that Government had reduced its spending, for example.

Said Robin Sherbourne of IPPR: "The Minister of Finance has been painting a successive picture of increases in revenue and a decline in expenditure and the deficit, but there are no signs from the actual figures that this is taking place."

Rehabeam Shilimela of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (Nepru) took a like-minded view, noting that Government expenditure on personnel hovered just below 45 per cent of total expenditure, and he couldn't foresee a change for the better in the next three years.

The Nepru Director, Dirk Hansohm, emphasised the importance of MPs scrutinising the Budget in relation to its impact on growth, employment, poverty and other inequalities, and it is to be hoped that MPs 'do their homework' in sifting through the weighty document to ensure that they familiarise themselves with the finances of the country.

This newspaper will continue to question certain expenditures, such as the increase in the Defence Vote and, of course, the always spiralling costs of the country's so-called 'intelligence-gathering' activities, which remain questionable in a country that enjoys peace.

Neither do these high costs benefit the development priorities of the country as a whole.

These are not the only concerns.

There are others, such as the massive cost of a new State House (especially when it appears as though President Pohamba would be satisfied with the current residence in central Windhoek) which was one of the anomalies of this Budget.

Inexplicably it was listed as an activity under the programme of 'protecting and defending the Constitution'.

Explanations on these huge expenses, in addition to clarification, if any are available, on the strange manner in which some of these have been allocated is needed.

Perhaps the Budget came too soon after the new President's inauguration for his views to have much of an impact.

Nevertheless it is disappointing in the wake of his praiseworthy and strong stance against graft and cutting back spending in the interest of national development.

In conclusion, Government simply has to cut back on its bloated bureaucracy and its expenditure.

Although this has been a constant refrain in the past few years, little has been done to achieve this goal.

It is vital that the President re-direct the spending priorities for the Budget to be in tandem with his vision for the next five years.

Opposition Must Get Serious TOO often Namibia's opposition parties appear to be caught flat-footed when issues of national importance come up in Parliament.

The fact that some opposition leaders have requested two weeks to prepare a response to the Budget is inexplicable.

More than that, it is shocking.

Most parties worth their salt would have prepared an alternative Budget, and had it ready on the day the Budget was tabled.

Opposition parties, after all, are technically supposed to be governments in waiting.

Economists and analysts were able to respond to key elements of the Budget immediately.

Why can't opposition parties do the same? It is not enough to only criticise Government for overspending, etc.

The opposition needs to come up with alternatives; they need to have their fingers on the pulse of the nation and its needs; they need to be able to kickstart substantive debate on the Budget, and need to be able to critically assess Government's spending plans.

One of the roles of an opposition is to help hold Government accountable.

The opposition too are funded by the taxpayers.

They need to do their homework, do the footwork and lay the groundwork, in representing the people who elected them to parliament.

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