The National Planning Commission (NPC) has been allocated a N$283 million budget, a move Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare hailed as key to fulfilling the objectives of the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).

Despite broad support for the allocation, several Members of Parliament (MPs) voiced concerns during parliamentary discussions about the commission's performance, regional presence, and project implementation. Ngurare commended MPs for their scrutiny, emphasising the government's commitment to ensuring NPC monitors and plans effectively while holding office, ministry, and agency (OMA) leaders accountable.

Critics highlighted overlapping roles and inefficiencies. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Assoc. Prof. Job Amupanda questioned planned activities like a census of agriculture, noting, "This is the National Planning Commission. Conduct the census of agriculture. Now we know that they don't conduct any census whatsoever. They will not be doing any census. This is an activity that is done by the statistics agency."

Swapo Party MP Willem Amutenya pointed to the lack of grassroots presence: "The most problematic thing that I have is the absence of the National Planning Commission officials at the grassroots level. We do not have officials in the regions on a full-time basis. They are all based in their office here in Windhoek."

Other Swapo MPs echoed implementation gaps. Helaria Mukapuli urged, "The NPC needs to move beyond reporting and ensure that projects are implemented and that project failure is investigated and remedial action is provided." 

Justina Jonas raised labour issues: "It's concerning that labour conditions are not adequately assessed during monitoring and evaluation processes by the Commission." 

Ephraim Nekongo stressed execution: "It's the issue of the implementation... Sometimes you come, and the money is there. But the implementation becomes a problem," adding the need for feedback to communities.

Opposition voices were pointed. National Democratic Party (NDP) leader Lukato Lukato said, "The Planning Commission, which was supposed to do its job properly and professionally, because compared to other countries in continental Africa, Namibia is behind." 

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani questioned oversight: "How does the National Planning Commission monitor capital projects? Because capital projects are the biggest thing that has not driven our economy."

Swapo MP James Uerikua noted motivation issues: "The performance management system doesn't clearly reward those who are overperforming." 

IPC MPs have criticised planning flaws. Elvis Lizazi contributed on stalled projects: "You find that some of the capital projects started during the time of the founding father... and they are not completed because of the poor monetary strategies." 

Michael Mwashindange advised caution: "We must avoid giving more resources during the mid-term review." Rodney Cloete called for capacity-building ahead of oil production to avoid the Dutch disease.

Regional planning drew fire, too. Swapo MP Marius Sheya said, "Our planning at the regional and local levels is emotion-based. We do not look at growth areas... but we look at 'I'm the governor' or 'I'm the councillor currently'."

On a positive note, Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Dr. Emma Kantema welcomed funding for microeconomic planning, including a new National Human Resource Plan to replace the expired 2012-2025 version and harness the demographic dividend from youth.

Ngurare closed by thanking MPs: "Thank you, my honourables, for the productive, constructive input that you have made, which will enrich us in the process of ensuring that all these votes are executed in the interest of the Namibian people."