Cabinet deals with tax, training

CABINET last week confirmed decisions taken at its first ordinary meeting for the year, held on January 27.

These include the establishment of the Namibia Training Authority and the Constitution of three courts to hear tax appeals. The Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation is concerned about the level of management effectiveness and internal efficiency in Namibia’s vocational training institutions.Recent studies aimed at improving the system, it says, have led to recognition of the need for a training authority to oversee the sector.Cabinet last week approved the establishment of the Namibia Training Authority to reform the quality and administration of vocational training and education.The body will be expected to monitor the quality and accessibility of the system and that it meets the skill demands of the industry.The establishment of the body has also been motivated in terms of the necessity to create more training opportunities for the youth and unemployed.Government hopes this will lead to increased employment opportunities and remedy national skills shortages, especially in the industrial and service sectors.Cabinet also decided to finance the authority’s running costs from the Vocational Training Fund.* The volume of appeals disputing their tax levies, especially from big companies, has led to the creation of three special purpose arbitration panels, to be known as Special Courts.A High Court judge will be appointed by the Judge President to serve as the president of the panels to resolve disputes surrounding income tax, value-added tax and additional sales tax.Cabinet then appointed the six panelists who will consider all three varieties of dispute.Three of the appointees, recommended by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia, are: Nelago Kasuto, Cameron Kotze and Gifford Swart.The remaining three are prominent business people, recommended by the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Rauha Uaandja, Libolly Haufiku and Christina Swart-Opperman.All of them will hold office for five years at the discretion of the Finance Minister.The Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation is concerned about the level of management effectiveness and internal efficiency in Namibia’s vocational training institutions. Recent studies aimed at improving the system, it says, have led to recognition of the need for a training authority to oversee the sector. Cabinet last week approved the establishment of the Namibia Training Authority to reform the quality and administration of vocational training and education. The body will be expected to monitor the quality and accessibility of the system and that it meets the skill demands of the industry. The establishment of the body has also been motivated in terms of the necessity to create more training opportunities for the youth and unemployed. Government hopes this will lead to increased employment opportunities and remedy national skills shortages, especially in the industrial and service sectors. Cabinet also decided to finance the authority’s running costs from the Vocational Training Fund. * The volume of appeals disputing their tax levies, especially from big companies, has led to the creation of three special purpose arbitration panels, to be known as Special Courts. A High Court judge will be appointed by the Judge President to serve as the president of the panels to resolve disputes surrounding income tax, value-added tax and additional sales tax. Cabinet then appointed the six panelists who will consider all three varieties of dispute. Three of the appointees, recommended by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia, are: Nelago Kasuto, Cameron Kotze and Gifford Swart. The remaining three are prominent business people, recommended by the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Rauha Uaandja, Libolly Haufiku and Christina Swart-Opperman. All of them will hold office for five years at the discretion of the Finance Minister.