Windhoek: Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of Parliament Armas Amukoto expressed significant concerns over the recently tabled national budget, accusing it of 'cooking numbers' rather than providing a credible pathway for improvement in Namibia. According to Namibia Press Agency, Amukoto, who serves as the shadow minister of Urban and Rural Development for the official opposition party, highlighted during his budget contribution that the budgetary records reveal a troubling disparity between governmental promises and actual delivery. He pointed out that while development spending implementation stood at approximately 71 percent, national debt continues to rise, with interest payments consuming a growing share of public revenue. This trend indicates that the nation is borrowing more money while achieving fewer tangible outcomes. Amukoto emphasized that the issue is not about budget control, and such presentations cannot be viewed as progress when presented to the public. He noted that by January 2025, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), through its Mass Housing Development Programme, delivered 112 housing units across Namibia. This was part of the government's broader initiative to address the national housing backlog, with an additional 1,059 units constructed by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia during the same period. He advocated for a thorough review of the budget, highlighting that the housing allocation of approximately N.dollars 445 million was based on an estimated cost of about N.dollars 148,000 per housing unit from the previous financial year. Despite the government's initial allocation of N.dollars 445 million to construct 3,000 houses, only 957 houses were completed out of the targeted units. Amukoto argued that this scenario resembles number manipulation on paper rather than tangible house delivery for the masses during the period under review. He pointed out that while service delivery is lagging, public debt is increasing, diverting resources from essential investments. I nadequate budget allocations hinder housing and service requirements, and Amukoto stressed that budget credibility relies on measurable outcomes such as infrastructure development, crucial for maintaining public trust. Last month, Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah allocated N.dollars 1.9 billion to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, with N.dollars 744 million earmarked for housing needs and developmental projects for the 2026/2027 financial year.