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🇳🇦 NamibiaBusinessStory: Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Namibia

Namibian firms seek three-year tax amnesty extension

By , based on Observer24

Namibian firms seek three-year tax amnesty extensionIllustrative image · RDNE Stock project · Pexels · Licence Pexels

Two Namibian business organisations are asking the finance ministry to extend the tax amnesty programme until 2028 or 2029; it expires on 31 October 2026. They cite economic difficulties and the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, while the scheme has already written off 9.8 billion Namibian dollars in penalties, according to their letters.

The Walvis Bay Chamber of Business and the Namibian Association of Local Businesses (NALOBA) are asking Namibia’s finance ministry to extend the tax amnesty programme, which is due to end on 31 October 2026. The chamber is proposing a three-year extension, until 31 October 2029, or at least two years, while NALOBA is calling for 24 months, Observer24 reports.

In a letter dated 26 October to the ministry’s executive director, Oscar Capelao, the chamber’s acting president, Johny Johnson Doëseb, said economic difficulties and a slow recovery were preventing businesses from paying their tax arrears on time. The chamber cited figures from the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), according to which the programme had written off 380.2 million Namibian dollars in interest and 9.8 billion Namibian dollars in penalties.

The chamber also cited the effects of foot-and-mouth disease on farmers, agricultural businesses and service providers in the livestock sector. Outbreaks were confirmed on 23 September in the Karasburg veterinary district and on 7 October at Kalala Island, in the Zambezi Region. The European Union has also temporarily suspended imports of certain meat products from the Namibian zone that had previously been free of the disease.

The request also refers to an official unemployment rate of 36.9% in 2023. The organisations say an extension would give affected businesses more time to restore their cash flow and pay their tax debts in affordable instalments. Namibia has also released 179 million Namibian dollars to combat foot-and-mouth disease.

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Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Namibia

Confirmed foot-and-mouth disease in Namibia has led to cases, restrictions and measures for livestock farmers.

The latest developments

Earlier in this story

  1. 19 OctBotswana steps up livestock vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease
  2. 13 OctNamibian councillor proposes foot-and-mouth disease plan for Omaheke
  3. 12 OctMariental festival drops animal shows over foot-and-mouth disease
The whole story: 13 articles →

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