HistoryMatters

Cabinet took the following decisions at its 19th ordinary meeting held on 14 October 2008.

1. DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT

Cabinet has already given approval to the Ministry of Finance to conclude double taxation agreements with 37 countries in Africa, Europe, America and Asia and eleven treaties have been concluded and were ratified by the National Assembly.

The Ministry of Finance approached Cabinet for approval to conclude double taxation agreements with Liberia, Bulgaria and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the avoidance of double taxation and to prevent fiscal evasion.

The three countries mentioned above approached the Ministry of Finance through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request to negotiate double taxation agreements with Namibia.

One of the purposes of the double taxation agreement is to promote greater inflow of foreign investments from developed countries on conditions which are politically acceptable as well as economically and socially beneficial to countries to such an agreement.

The objectives of the agreements are to eliminate all common international double taxation problems and to establish an environment in which the exchange of technology, trade and investments will be encouraged.

Cabinet, therefore, approved the conclusion of double taxation agreements with Liberia, Bulgaria and the Democratic Republic of Congo and authorised the Minister of Finance to sign the agreements in pursuance of Article 32 (3) (e) of the Namibian Constitution. Cabinet also authorised the said Minister to submit the agreements to the National Assembly for ratification in accordance with the mentioned article in the Namibian Constitution.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Finance at telephone number 2099111.

2. APPOINTMENT OF MR. MATTHEW GOWASEB AS BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE NEW ERA PUBLICATIONS CORPORATION FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS

Mr. Vilbard Usiku resigned as a Board Member and Chairperson of the Board of the New Era Publications Corporation on 18 June 2008 and Ms. Katrina Sikeni was appointed to act as Chairperson on 2 July 2008.

The Minister of Information and Communication Technology approached Cabinet to appoint Mr. Matthew Gowaseb, the Knowledge Management Expert in the Cabinet Secretariat as a Board Member and the new Chairperson of the New Era Publications Corporation, while Ms. Sikeni will stay on as a normal Board Member.

Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr. Matthew Gowaseb to the Board and as Chairperson of the New Era Publications Corporation for the next three years.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology at telephone number 2832387.

3. PERMISSION TO INTRODUCE THE TOBACCO PRODUCTS CONTROL BILL IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2003 in Geneva. It is an international instrument aimed at controlling and reducing tobacco use and its negative effects on health, the economy and the environment.

Namibia was among the first African countries to sign up to the Treaty in November 2005 and became one of the first members of the Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco after the Treaty was ratified by the National Assembly.

The Tobacco Control Bill endeavours to make Namibia comply with the provisions of the FCTC, which required parties to "adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative and/or other measures for preventing and reducing tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction and exposure to tobacco smoke.

A survey by the Ministry of Health and Social Services indicated that youth can too readily buy single cigarettes in Namibia. While a packet of cigarettes costs between N$20 to N$25, single cigarettes are sold by many highly exploitative vendors at a price of up to N$2.50 per cigarette, leading to perverse profits of more than N$1.50 per cigarette.

The Ministry also found that it is mainly the youth who are targeted by tobacco advertising and once hooked and nicotine dependant, the youth will "become loyal smokers" for many years.

Wide consultations took place during the development of the Bill, including consultations with the Office of the Attorney General and several other Government institutions, the Cancer Association of Namibia, the Hospitality Association of Namibia, British American Tobacco and other Non-Governmental Organisations.

The Tobacco Products Control Bill is aimed at establishing a Tobacco Products Control Committee to advise the Minister on matters relating to the use of tobacco products; to provide for the constitution, powers, duties and functions of the Committee; to provide for the reduction of demand for and supply of tobacco products; to provide for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke; to provide for the establishment of a fund for the control of tobacco products and to provide for related and incidental matters.

In the light of the above, Cabinet gave the green light to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to table the Tobacco Products Control Bill in the National Assembly.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Health and Social Services at telephone number 2039111.