Staff Writer
Namibia’s N$8.5 billion development budget, revenue collection and government liquidity are expected to come under scrutiny when the minister of finance tables the 2026/2027 Mid-Year Budget Review on Thursday.
In a series of posts on its Facebook page, Deloitte Namibia expects the review to provide updates on budget implementation, revenue performance and measures to strengthen government collections, while also clarifying funding for efforts to contain the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affecting the livestock sector.
Gerda Brand, director of Namibia tax at Deloitte Namibia, said the review would assess budget implementation alongside final fiscal indicators for the financial year ended March 2026.
Brand highlighted comments previously made by the finance minister during a civil society engagement, in which the minister identified implementation as a key challenge.
“The problematic stage is when we go to implementation,” the minister said.
Deloitte expects attention to focus on the execution of the N$8.5 billion development budget and the rollout of major capital projects.
The review is also expected to provide an update on revenue collection against the government’s projections for the current financial year.
Tabitha Mugandiwa, manager of Namibia tax at Deloitte, said the minister had previously estimated total revenue for the 2026/2027 financial year at N$89.8 billion, representing an increase of 2.5% from the previous year.
“During the Mid-year Budget Review, we expect an update on how revenue collection is tracking against the March 2026 estimate,” Mugandiwa said.
She said the update would be important in assessing whether government spending plans are supported by actual revenue collections. Government liquidity is another issue expected to feature in the review.
Lazarus Amukeshe, assistant manager of Namibia Tax at Deloitte, said improvements in value-added tax (VAT) credit refunds had increased pressure on government cash flow.
Although faster refunds have benefited taxpayers, Amukeshe said the payments had contributed to liquidity pressures, resulting in the rationing of payments to government creditors.
Deloitte expects the minister to outline measures to strengthen revenue mobilisation and ease the pressure on government finances.
The review is also expected to address the financial implications of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Lahya Shapwa, senior manager of Namibia Tax at Deloitte, said the agricultural sector would be looking for clarity on emergency funding to contain the outbreak and limit further losses to the livestock industry.
The review is expected to indicate what resources the government has allocated or redirected towards managing the disease.
The mid-year assessment will provide an opportunity for the government to report on progress against its revenue and spending targets while outlining any adjustments required for the remainder of the 2026/2027 financial year.
