Statement on National Defence Budget - Vote 08: Defence Appropriation Bill 2019/2020 Republic of Namibia by: Hon. Penda Ya Ndakolo Minister of ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Republic of Namibia
Statement on National Defence Budget
Vote 08: Defence Appropriation Bill 2019/2020
by:
Hon. Penda Ya Ndakolo
Minister of Defence
30 April 2019
VOTE 08: DEFENCE-INTRODUCTORY BUDGET STATEMENT BY
HONOURABLE PENDA YA NDAKOLO, MINISTER OF DEFENCE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ON 30 APRIL 2019
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee
Honourable Members of this august House
1. It is my honour to present before this august House Vote 08:
Defence, for the 2019/2020 Financial Year. At the same time, I shall inform
the Honourable Members and the nation at large about the performance
of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) during the previous Financial Years
2017/2018-2018/2019 and indicate what performance is to be expected
from the Ministry in 2019/2020 Financial Year.
2. Surely, I will then request the Honourable Members of this
august House to support and approve the Defence Budget Allocation for
2019/2020 Financial Year.
3. At the outset, allow me Honourable Members, on behalf of the
Ministry of Defence, the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and on my
own behalf, to express our deepest gratitude to His Excellency Comrade
Dr. Hage G. Geingob, the President of the Republic of Namibia and
Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, Comrade Calle
Schlettwein, the Minister of Finance and his Team, and indeed to the
Government of the Republic of Namibia as a whole for their continuous
support and special attention paid to the Defence Sector of our country
over the years.
4. Notwithstanding the goodwill of our Government to allocate
significant amounts of money to the Ministry of Defence in the past
years, which is an indication that Defence is a priority for Government,
we acknowledge that the current economic performance of our country
has placed immense pressure on the generation and the subsequent
allocation of resources to competing national needs.
5. As leaders entrusted with the leadership of the Ministry of
3
Defence and the NDF, we appreciate the fact that, even under the current
economic conditions, our Government allocated one of the biggest
amounts of money to Vote 8-Defence to see our Ministry through.
6. In this manner, our Government continues to demonstrate
its commitment to the defence of our country. But, what disappoints
us most is the habitual negative attitude of some of our fellow citizens
towards the Defence Budget. It seems that while the majority of us and
the Government understand the necessity of our Defence Force, some
quarters of our society appear to understand it as something optional.
And that is a big misconception because the NDF is founded based on
the provisions of the Namibian Constitution. Therefore, it is imperative
for our people to understand that the existence of the Ministry of Defence
and the NDF is not a fluke. The MoD and the NDF are constitutional
institutions of the Namibian State.
7. Namibia decided consciously, at the time of drafting its
Constitution, that it has to have a Ministry of Defence and a Defence Force
4
to defend the territory and national interests of Namibia as stipulated in
Chapter 15, Article 115 of the Namibian Constitution. Accordingly, it
must be understood that the constitutional mandate of the NDF, has not
been changed. Therefore, by not changing the decision to have a Defence
Force, Namibia sees the need for the continued existence of the MoD and
NDF.
8. Believe it or not, Namibia needs a Defence Force because it
plays very important roles in the socio-economic development agenda
of our country by defending our territorial integrity, our people and our
national interests. And indeed, by defending the peace and stability that
our country enjoys today, which allows our people to focus their efforts
on development activities.
9. Namibia may not have the most powerful military assets and
capabilities in the world but the sons and daughters of Namibia in uniform
are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our motherland.
There is no doubt that they have the will and determination to defend
5
Namibia, no matter what the circumstances may be. And I am sure there
are many more patriotic Namibians out there who are prepared to defend
Namibia whenever called upon to do so.
10. Therefore, it must really be internalised that the primary role of the
NDF is to make sure that the independence, the territorial integrity, the
people and the national interests of Namibia are defended and protected
at all times and within the context of the national development agenda.
Hon. Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Hon. Members
11. The secondary, but equally important, role of the Namibian
Defence Force, especially in peacetime, is to provide Military Aid to Civil
Authorities (MACP). In this regard, the NDF continues to play a major
role in anti-poaching operations aimed at protecting Namibia’s wildlife,
especially elephants and rhinos and support the Namibian Police Force
and other law enforcement agencies in the maintenance of law and order.
12. Other areas where Military Aid to the Civil Authorities is provided,
include, but not limited to, Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) clearance
6
operations, assistance to the health sector, the Electoral Commission
of Namibia, participation and assistance in the national emergency
management and response, including the transportation and distribution
of drought relief food and potable water to the affected communities and
helping fight wildfires, both in commercial and communal areas.
13. I must emphasise that the involvement of the NDF in anti-
poaching operations has been so successful and effective to the extent that
it has angered poachers and their handlers, resulting in them changing
tactics and lately directing hostile fire towards the NDF. I, once again,
want to warn the armed gangs of poachers and their handlers that we
will respond adequately to any hostile act directed at the NDF. We will
not accept the loss of the lives of our soldiers and the destruction of NDF
properties by poachers, never.
14. In the SADC region, the Ministry of Defence continues to build
and promote peace and security with neighbouring countries, through
the Joint Permanent Commissions on Defence and Security with a view
to establish and maintain friendly relations of cooperation with other
defence and security institutions of the region.
15. Namibia continues to be fully engaged and committed to SADC
standby arrangements, both in peace support and peacekeeping missions
a case in point being our participation in the SADC Preventive Mission
in Lesotho (SAPMIL) from 2017 to 2019. Namibia continues to be
fully engaged and committed to joint training activities including our
participation in the Command Post Exercise (CPX)-Exercise Umodzi,
which took place in 2018 in the Republic of Malawi.
Hon. Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Hon. Members
16. At the international level, the Ministry of Defence and the
Namibian Defence Force have the responsibility to contribute to the
maintenance of international peace and security. Therefore, Namibia
actively participates in peace support operations, not only at the SADC
level but also at the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN)
7
levels. In this regard, Namibia continues to be part and parcel of SADC,
AU and UN preparations and standby arrangements for peace support
operations. To this effect, Namibia has twelve (12) members of the
Namibian Defence Force serving in the United Nations peace support
and peacekeeping missions in Sudan (Darfur Region), South Sudan and
Abyei as Staff Officers (5) and Military Observers (7).
17. We will also continue to maintain and strengthen Defence
Diplomacy through the deployment of Defence Attachés to key and
friendly countries to keep ourselves abreast of the international security
situation.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Honourable
Members
18. It cannot be emphasised enough that the Namibian Defence Force
is our national security guarantee, and as it was provided for with foresight
in our Constitution by the founders of our Republic, Namibia cannot do
without it. It should, therefore, be expected that our nation has to make
necessary sacrifices to make sure that the NDF is adequately resourced in
order to be ready to defend Namibia and its national interests at any given
time. Some people say Namibia does not need a Defence Force because
there is no war. I mean, come on, you do not wait for a war to start in
order to establish a Defence Force. According to an old Latin adage “If you
want peace, prepare for war”. This is why we need the Namibian Defence
Force to protect peace and stability in our country and to prevent possible
external aggression.
19. During the State of the Nation Address, His Excellency Comrade
Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and
Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force stated that “I am
proud of the men and women of our Defence Force, who continue to
display utmost bravery, unity and professionalism. Indeed, these brave
sons and daughters are the pride of our Namibian House”. The Ministry
of Defence and Namibian Defence Force are equally proud to have His
Excellency as Commander-in-Chief of the Namibian Defence Force.
8
Honourable Chairperson, Honourable Members of this august House
20. In the past Financial Years, when the economy was doing well,
the focus of the Ministry of Defence has been on ensuring that the basic
defence infrastructures were put in place and the basic equipment and
capabilities were acquired. But with the current fiscal challenges facing
our Government, we will pay more attention to the protection and
maintenance of the existing infrastructures and equipment of the Ministry
of Defence and the Namibian Defence Force, as well as looking after the
welfare and wellbeing of the members of the Defence Force.
21. We learnt, and are still learning, from the previous Financial Year
how to survive on a reduced budget and are sure to survive again this
Financial Year with the resources at our disposal without compromising
on the security of our motherland. But it needs to be remembered
that Defence is a public good that needs the support of all our people
irrespective of their political affiliation or ideological orientation.
22. On our part, we will continue to maintain the cost-cutting
measures that we adopted since last year to enable the Ministry to navigate
the current financial storm, including the granting of compulsory leave
for some categories of NDF members, postponement of recruitment and
the conducting of major military exercises as well as looking at other
internal measures to realise savings that will allow the provision of basic
services to continue.
23. To conclude, allow me to mention the overall financial figures
in my presentation. This august House appropriated an allocation of Six
Billion Forty-Five Million, Six Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand
Namibia Dollars (N$6,045,639,000) in 2017/18 Financial Year. The
execution rate stands at 99.47 % of the appropriated amount.
24. The Ministry was also allocated an amount of Six Billion Eight-
Four Million, One Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Namibia Dollars
(N$6,084,115,000) for Financial Year 2018/19. The Accountability Report
9
for 2017/18 Financial Year and the summary of the Defence Budget
execution for the Financial Year 2018/19 and the Medium Term Plan
are attached hereto as APPENDIX 1 AND 2 for Honourable Members’
assessment and consideration.
Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee
Honourable Members of this august House
25. It is now my honour to request the Honourable Members to
support and approve the allocation of Five Billion, Eight Hundred and
Eight-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Thousand Namibia
Dollars Only (N$5,884,817,000) to fund the programmes of the Ministry
of Defence during the 2019/2020 Financial Year.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
10Appendix 1
VOTE 08: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Accountability Report
1. Mandate of the Vote
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is mandated to coordinate and administer
the operations of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) as provided for in the
Constitution of Namibia (1990, Chapter 15, Article 118). Defend the territory
and national interests of Namibia as per the Defence Act, Act 1 of 2002.
1.2 Financial Resources (Standard Expenditure Summary)
Breakdown Year 2016/17
Estimate Actual
personnel Expenditure 4 723 571 000 4 595 801 000
Goods and Other services 829 145 000 795 803 000
Subsidies and Other Current 1 000 000 1 04 522 000
Transfers
Acquistion of Capital Assets 50 000 000 75 872 000
(Operational)
Capital Transfers 0 0
(Operational)
Operational Budget 5 603 716 000 5 571 998 000
Operational Capital
Acquisition of Capital 441 923 000 441 823 000
Assets (Development)
Capital transfers
(Development)
Development Budget 441 923 000 441 823 000
Total State Revenue 6 045 639 000 6 013 821 000
Fund Appropriation
Development Partners
Grand Total 6 045 639 000 6 013 821 000
112. Programme
*P- Indi- Pro- *A- Activity *MD
Code cator gramme Code Name in-
Name Charge 2017/18
Estimate Actual Execution
rate (%)
01 01 Training MD08 Training 407 791 500 396 205 415 97,16
and
Capacity
Building
Sub-Total 407 791 500 396 205 415 97,16
02 01&04 Land MD04 Army 3 274 456 223 3 266 921 194 99,77
01 Opera-
tion MD04 21 Brigade 460 069 000 459 500 924 99,88
Sub-Total 3 734 525 223 3 726 422 118 99,78
03 01 Airspace MD06 Airforce 374 995 000 370 446 443 98,79
Protec-
tion
Sub-Total 374 995 000 370 446 443 98,79
04 01 Military MD07 Military 105 809 000 1 04 394 598 98,62
Health Hospital
Support
Sub-Total 105 809 000 104 349 598 98,62
05 01 Offshore MD08 Navy 379 425 000 377 744 566 99,56
Defence
Sub-Total 379 425 000 377 744 566 99,56
06 01 Interna- MD09 Defence 63 707 000 62 919 144 98,76
tional Attache
Deploy-
ment
Sub-Total 63 707 000 62 919 144 98,76
07 01 Supervi- MD01 Office 2 993 500 2 838 880 94,83
sion and of the
Support Minister
Services MD02 Administ 976 392 777 972 895 036 99,64
ration
Sub-Total 979 386 277 975 733 916 99,63
Vote-Total 6 045 639 000 6 013 821 200 99,47
12Explanation for the variances
Supervision and Support Services: Office of the Minister: 5.17%
The saving under Main Division 01 is the result of the implementation of the
provisions of the Administrative Directive No. 01/2017 dated 01 February 2018
as issued by the Office the Prime Minister.
Implementation of the Administrative Directive realised a saving of 36.58% on
Subsistence and Travel Allowance for the Office of the Minister, which resulted
in the under expenditure of 5.17% of the main division.
Training and Development: 2.84%
The saving under Main Division 03 is the result of the fact that the Ministry
suspended recruitment due to the fact there was insufficient funds for Goods
and Other Services to enable the Ministry to train the recruits. A saving of 3.11%
was realised on Personnel Expenditure, which resulted in the 2.84% overall
saving of the main division.
3. Programmes Achievements (Targets As Provided In The
Corresponding MTEF)
3000 Recruits over the MTEF period
Zero recruits for 2017/2018 as targeted.
Specialization of at least 20% of MOD personnel by 2017/2018
This target under performed with 5% due to exchange rate fluctuations. Fewer
students were sent for specialisation to foreign countries.
Carry out research on modern equipment and acquire 10% of Defence
equipment by 2017/2018
The target underperformed with 6% to accommodate revised ministerial
priorities.
13Replace obsolete and outdated equipment with at least 10% latest
technology by 2017/2018
Due to reprioritisation of ministerial activities the target performance was 0%.
To improve existing infrastructure at least 20% by 2017/2018
Out of the identified infrastructure only 15% were renovated and rehabilitated
due to price escalations.
4. Non-Tax Revenue
Year 2017/18
Revenue Source Estimate Actual Variance %
Ministerial Fines 500 000 707 912 -207 912
(714)
Unclaimed Cheques 0 9 688 514 -9 688 514
Ministerial Fines 0 -7 830 7 830
(775)
Sale of Serviceable 120 000 0 120 000
Stores and Equipment
Lost Equipment and 70 000 5 435 64 565
Stores
Private Telephone 5 000 0 5 000
Calls
Miscellaneous 1 405 444 348 489 1 056 955
Total 2 100 444 10 742 520 -8 642 076
EXPLANATION OF VARIANCE EXCEEDING N$ 200,000
The reduced revenue collected on the miscellaneous revenue heading was main-
ly because the Ministry of Defence expected increased participation in United
Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNIMAG) for the provision of staff officers
and military observers, however only limited participation was possible during
the financial year.
1415
Appendix 2 16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Design and Layout by:
Public Relations Division
Defence Headquarters
WindhoekYou can also read
