Mixed response to ‘low-key’ Budget

THE 2004-05 Budget drew both cautious excitement and outrage from the main opposition parties.

The Congress of Democrats (CoD) described it as “a low-key maintenance budget”, while the official opposition DTA-UDF Coalition called it “generally neutral”. Both parties were happy that there were no tax increases and that pensions would be increased.But, they slammed Government over the country’s worsening debt situation.”Government has now realised that they can’t continue to live above their income, they must cut debt,” said the DTA-UDF’s Johan de Waal.He was referring to Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s assertion that debt management would be a priority during the upcoming financial year.The CoD’s Tsudao Gurirab charged: “What Government is telling the nation is that we are now in a serious situation with our debt, which is difficult to get out of.””This a telling indictment of the extent of Government’s economic mismanagement.”Apparently reacting to the pension increase, up from N$250 to N$300, the CoD lawmaker teased: “Don’t rock the boat, stupid, we have elections.”Gurirab expressed disappointment that the bulk of the funds allocated to the fight against the HIV-AIDS pandemic came from donors and not Government.The DTA-UDF’s De Waal was happy that Government had decided to review its procurement process.”We are happy with this because the Tender Board is there to make sure that Government buys at the right possible price but this is not happening at the moment,” he said.The opposition shadow Minister of Finance also welcomed the creation of a Government agency on parastatals, and said the N$366 million allocation to Air Namibia exceeded even the “worse” predictions.The two opposition parties felt that most of Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s announcements on Wednesday, such as the “sin tax”, were expected after similar moves in South Africa.Both parties were happy that there were no tax increases and that pensions would be increased.But, they slammed Government over the country’s worsening debt situation.”Government has now realised that they can’t continue to live above their income, they must cut debt,” said the DTA-UDF’s Johan de Waal.He was referring to Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s assertion that debt management would be a priority during the upcoming financial year.The CoD’s Tsudao Gurirab charged: “What Government is telling the nation is that we are now in a serious situation with our debt, which is difficult to get out of.””This a telling indictment of the extent of Government’s economic mismanagement.”Apparently reacting to the pension increase, up from N$250 to N$300, the CoD lawmaker teased: “Don’t rock the boat, stupid, we have elections.”Gurirab expressed disappointment that the bulk of the funds allocated to the fight against the HIV-AIDS pandemic came from donors and not Government.The DTA-UDF’s De Waal was happy that Government had decided to review its procurement process.”We are happy with this because the Tender Board is there to make sure that Government buys at the right possible price but this is not happening at the moment,” he said.The opposition shadow Minister of Finance also welcomed the creation of a Government agency on parastatals, and said the N$366 million allocation to Air Namibia exceeded even the “worse” predictions.The two opposition parties felt that most of Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s announcements on Wednesday, such as the “sin tax”, were expected after similar moves in South Africa.