Economic Briefs

Namibia joins global migration body * At its meeting on December 9, Cabinet approved Namibia’s full membership to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

A media statement by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology said that with migration issues becoming topical on the world agenda, Namibia stands to benefit from full IOM membership, as it will enable Namibia to influence decisions of the body on migration issues, while international terrorism also dictates that the management of migration issues requires a joint response by all states.
Namibia holds observer status at the IOM, which allows the country to participate in workshops and meetings of the IOM.
The IOM was established in 1951 to assist with the organised transfer of migrants, the organised transfer of refugees, displaced persons and other individuals in need of international migration services, and to provide a forum to stated and other organisations for the exchange of views and experiences and the promotion of co-operation and co-ordination in international migration issues.
The Cabinet noted that the IOM has vast experiences in handling migration issues and Namibia stand to benefit from these experiences, especially because the country is regarded as a ‘pull country’ in the migration of persons from other African countries.
Annual membership to the IOM is N$80 000. – Nampa

SA holds back on US$30m grant
to Zimbabwe

* HARARE – South Africa reiterated over the weekend that it would only hand over US$30 million in agricultural aid to Zimbabwe after a unity government is formed, denying a Zimbabwe media report it had reversed a decision to hold back the help.
While South Africa and other southern African countries are helping Zimbabwe deal with a spiralling cholera epidemic, the regional power said last month it would only provide farming aid to its neighbour after a coalition government was formed.
The move was seen as South Africa’s first punitive measure against Zimbabwe, which is battling acute food shortages, and as a sign of frustration at its neighbour’s failure to enforce a stalled power-sharing agreement and stem an economic crisis.
Some analysts believe South Africa and other African nations have been too soft on President Robert Mugabe and want to see more regional pressure on him to break a political impasse.
Zimbabwe’s state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper quoted Agriculture Minister Rugare Gumbo as saying farming inputs such as staple maize seed, fertiliser and fuel form part of the R300 million South African package that had arrived in Zimbabwe.
– Reuters

Maputo approves 5% budget increase

* MAPUTO – Mozambique’s parliament has approved a 5 per cent increase in the 2009 annual budget to US$4 billion as it boosts spending on education, health and infrastructure.
The country will need to make up a 55 per cent budget shortfall with tax increases as well as grants and soft loans from international partners, it said.
The budget was approved late on Saturday.
The government said tackling poverty was the top priority and spending would go mainly on education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, governance and public order.
A big chunk of money was earmarked for the recruitment of teachers, heath workers and police.
– Reuters