SWAKOPMUND, September 21 — The Parliament of Namibia has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to strengthen legislative oversight of public finances and ensure that government spending is aligned with national development priorities.
Speaking at the opening of the 9th Annual Conference of the African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO) in Swakopmund on Monday, National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said Namibia was still in the early stages of establishing its own PBO and would require support from sister parliaments and the continental network.
The conference, held under the theme “The Role of PBOs in Supporting their Legislatures’ Oversight Towards Realizing Africa’s Agenda 2063,” brings together parliamentary representatives and financial oversight stakeholders to discuss public financial management, fiscal accountability and legislative oversight.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said African economies were facing growing fiscal pressures, including debt vulnerabilities, illicit financial flows, procurement challenges, climate related impacts and increasing demands for public services.
She warned that although public borrowing can support economic growth, unchecked debt could undermine economic stability and place a burden on future generations.
“The effective oversight of public debt and borrowing is, therefore, not merely a technical financial exercise but it is a fundamental democratic duty and a profound moral responsibility of the legislature,” she said.
The Speaker said parliaments had a constitutional responsibility to scrutinise borrowing decisions, economic policies and budget allocations to ensure that public resources were used prudently, transparently and in the interests of citizens.
She said parliamentary oversight required more than political commitment and depended on access to independent technical expertise.
“Parliaments require specialised, independent, and unvarnished technical capacity,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said, describing PBOs and Independent Fiscal Institutions as important tools for providing legislators with fiscal analysis, forecasting and technical advice.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila acknowledged the support provided by the AN-PBO Governing Council in awarding Namibia the opportunity to host the conference despite the country still being in the early stages of establishing its own PBO.
She said the hosting of the conference could help accelerate Namibia’s efforts to develop an effective institution capable of supporting Parliament in its financial oversight responsibilities.
The Speaker linked the proposed PBO to Namibia’s broader development agenda, including National Development Plan 6 (NDP6) and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, which address areas including economic growth, human development, environmental sustainability, governance and public service delivery.
She said Namibia’s adoption of Outcome Based Budgeting had further increased the importance of Parliament’s role in monitoring whether government spending translates into tangible public service outcomes.
“Parliament is a Performance Overseer with the duty to hold the Executive accountable,” she said.
According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, establishing a PBO would strengthen Namibia’s governance reforms by supporting more transparent budget processes, evidence based fiscal policies and efficient use of public resources.
The Speaker also called on delegates to use the conference to exchange practical approaches to budget analysis and explore the use of digital technologies in monitoring public finances.
She said stronger cooperation among African parliaments could help institutions prepare for future economic shocks while ensuring national budgets remain aligned with the objectives of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long term development framework.
The conference provides a platform for parliamentary representatives and financial experts from participating countries to share experiences and strengthen cooperation on fiscal oversight.
Kuugongelwa-Amadhila concluded by declaring the 9th AN-PBO Annual Conference officially open, calling for rigorous deliberations and greater cooperation among participating institutions.
