Cabinet Briefs

Cabinet Decisions of the 2nd (2024) Decision Making meeting held on 27 February 2024 National Trade Policy

CABINET approved the Draft National Trade Policy which aims to contribute towards Namibia’s economic diversification by promoting and stimulating a competitive trade sector to increase export of goods and services.

Cabinet further directed the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade to coordinate the implementation of the policy in line with the Implementation Action Plan.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Regional Technical Meeting of Points of Contact on Import and Export of Radioactive Sources

Cabinet granted approval for the Ministry of Health and Social Services to host the IAEA Regional Technical Meeting of the Points of Contact on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources in Windhoek, Namibia from 22-24 April 2024.

Regional training courses on Building Nuclear Safeguards Capacity in Africa by African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) in Swakopmund during the period of 2024-2027 Cabinet endorsed the hosting of the training course on Building Nuclear Safeguards Capacity in

Africa in Swakopmund from the year 2024-2027;

Cabinet took note of the local costs associated with the hosting of the training course budgeted for under the budget vote of the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Ordinary sessions of the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE)

Cabinet took note of the Report of the 5th Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment. Cabinet further took note that Namibia was elected the third vice chair of the Bureau of the STCARDWE and will be expected to attend meetings of the committee during her tenure. Cabinet took note that Namibia is one of the African Union member states that is lagging behind with the implementation of commitments made under the Malabo Declaration and CAADP, in particular the allocation of 10% of the national budget to agriculture.

Cabinet further took note of other resolutions of STC-ARDWE as reflected in Cabinet submission, as well as those contained in the Back to Office Report of Experts; and Cabinet supported Namibia’s continued attendance of the meetings of the STC-ARDWE, since Namibia was elected the third vice-chair of the Bureau of STC-ARDWE.

Water supply security to the central area, north central, southern and north eastern regions

Cabinet took note that NamWater will attend to the inefficiency hampering the water supply in the current water distribution systems, through urgent rehabilitation and maintenance;

Cabinet took note that suppose no inflow is received in the dams, the existing water sources will only be sufficient to secure a regular water supply to the central areas of Nambia (CAN) until July 2025, with water savings of 5% by consumers as a prerequisite to achieving this target; Cabinet further took note that despite several ongoing short to medium-term projects (i.e. second direct potable reclamation plant, the upgrades to the Gammams and Otjomuise sewage plants, the Berg Aukas capacity upgrade, and the Abenab development), the CAN is still expected to experience severe water supply shortages in the next four to seven years should a viable long-term water supply solution not become available; Cabinet took note that the feasibility study for the Northern Desalination Plant will be carried out and to be funded by an AfDB grant.

Cabinet also took note that further studies to assess and investigate the feasibility of supplying potable water to southern regions through pipelines from the integrated southern dams (Neckartal and Hardap, and possibly Naute) will be carried out.

Cabinet approved fast-tracking the implementation of the short to medium-term projects (i.e Second direct potable reclamation plant (DPR2, the upgrades to the Gammams and Otjomuise sewage plants, and the Berg Aukas capacity upgrade) to reduce any foreseen risks from insufficient water supplies. Cabinetapprovedtheprioritisation of the long-term water supply solutions (i.e. Okavango-Link and Desalination projects) to ensure water supply security to the north-central regions, southern regions, north-eastern regions, Erongo region and the CAN, which includes Windhoek. Cabinet approved, in principle, the funding for the long-term water supply solution from the Okavango River with a volume of 32mm3/a;

Cabinet directed the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to notify the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission of Namibia’s planned measures to develop the Okavango Link Project.

Cabinet approved that a feasibility study be conducted of the new desalination plant for northern regions of Namibia.

Updated Draft Reply to the List of Issues Emanating from Namibia’s Third Periodic Report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

Cabinet authorised the Ministry of Justice to submit the Replies to the List of Issues to the Human Rights Committee on or before 1 March 2024, through the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation.

Cabinet authorised the AttorneyGeneral of the Republic of Namibia to lead the delegation to the dialogue, and accompanied and assisted by officials from relevant Offices/Ministries/Agencies (O/M/As) during the dialogue.

Proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Namibia and Angola in the field of sport development

Cabinet authorised the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service to enter into an MoU with the government of Angola in the field of sport development.

2022/2023: Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) Annual Report and Financial Statements

Cabinet took note of the abovementioned report and authorised the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises to table the Report and Financial Statements in the National Assembly.