Taxpayers will foot the bill for an extremely generous golden handshake for outgoing President Nujoma next year. Justice Minster Kawana this week introduced the Bill called "Former President’s (sic) Pension and other Benefits Fund Bill". It amends the current "Presidential Emoluments and Pension Act of 1990. Minister Kawana pointed out that the existing law only provided for a pension of 80 % of the basic salary, but not for a gratuity. The new Bill provides for a tax-free pension equivalent to the basic salary of the first former president, who is President Nujoma, plus a lump-sum tax free (gratuity), which will one annual salary. Nujoma will be allowed a "furnished official residence", 3 domestic workers, 2 gardeners, 2 cooks, 2 waiters, 2 people doing the laundry, 10 security personnel, 3 drivers, 2 secretaries, 2 personal assistants and 2 office attendants, furnished office accommodation, office equipment and "official residence or housing allowance", household staff, transport and travel as well as entertainment allowance. The official vehicles for Nujoma will bear the number plate NAM 1, NAM2 etc. All these benefits will be defrayed from the State Revenue Fund and will be tax-free. Nujoma can make 6 free trips within Namibia per annum and 4 international trips, all fully paid. He will get 3 cars: one sedan, one 4 x 4 and one normal pick up. He does not even have to pay water or electricity.

The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation said it made a surplus of N$ 9.8 million for the financial year ending 31 March 2003 against a deficit of N$ 16 million the year before. The annular report of the NBC for 2003, although it only covered the period until March 2003, was tabled by Information Minister Nangolo Mbumba. According to the law, annual reports of state-owned enterprises must be tabled in the National Assembly within 12 months of their financial year. Operational expenditure came to N$ 114.4 million, some N$ 9 million less than the previous year. About 115 staff members took what the NBC called voluntary retrenchment the staff component was reduced from 560 to 430. The retrenchment cost about N$ 15 million. Only N$ 7.2 million were collected from licence fees, even less than 2002, when N$ 8.8 million were collected. Since this year, licence collection was outsourced to a black empowerment company. The government subsidy for the NBC came to N$112.8 million.

TransNamib and Lennings Rail Services, an operation of Grinaker-LTA L have agreed to form a Joint Venture for carrying out a tender, which was awarded in May 2004, of constructing the Northern Railway Line extension, the Namibia Rail Contractors Company. The construction period is 15 months with the completion date on 15 August 2005 to Omuthyia. Lennings is contributing 75% which consist of the supply of on-track machines, operators, rail track building expertise and contract administration, while TransNamib is contributing 25% which consist of small equipment, some rail material, transport and rail track building expertise. Construction of the permanent way (ballast, rail and sleepers) commenced on 1 June 2004, and the progress for the rail track is already 35km. All bridges have been completed. Otjivelo and Omuthiya stations are completed, while construction of the Ondangwa station is still in progress. The MD of TransNamib, John Shaetonhodi, also announced that a railway would be constructed between Windhoek and the Hosea Kutako International Airport to allow air passengers a fast and safe transport route.

NCCI preparing for Angolan Summit