-
Namibia: Tampons Are Luxury Items, Says Finance Ministry
Namibian, 10 January 2023
THE finance ministry said tampons are not exempt from sales tax because they are considered to be luxury items. Read more »
-
Namibia: Finance Warns Sanitary Pad Tax Violators
Namibian, 9 January 2023
THE Ministry of Finance has warned retailers and wholesalers who still charge value added tax (VAT) on sanitary pads that they will be forced to refund customers or pay a fine of… Read more »
-
Namibia: 'No Girl Should Miss School Due to Menstruation'
Namibian, 31 May 2022
HAMBELELENI Matsi, the chief executive officer of Diagnostic Lab, says no child should miss school due to menstruation. Read more »
-
Namibia: Diagnolab Donates 100 000 Sanitary Pads
Namibian, 24 March 2022
NATIONAL Diagnostic Laboratory (Diagnolab) last week donated 100 000 loose sanitary pads to the office of the president. Read more »
-
Namibia: Sanitary Pads Tax Policy Optimistic
New Era, 24 March 2021
Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani is pleased with the recent budget announcement that sanitary products will be value-added tax (VAT) zero-rated from the… Read more »
Tax-Free Pads But Not 'Luxury' Tampons - Namibia Finance Ministry
Namibia's finance ministry has said they will not exempt tampons from sales tax because they are considered to be luxury items. During a radio interview, the ministry spokesperson Wilson Shikoto said underprivileged women and girls typically do not use tampons, which is why the 15% value added tax (VAT) remains on these items.
Shikoto's comments come a day after the government warned retailers and wholesalers who still charge VAT on menstrual pads that they will be forced to refund customers or pay a fine of $500 by court order.
Taxing menstrual products makes them less affordable and accessible, especially for low-income consumers. Menstrual health is an integral part of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and is used by the UN as an important determinant for the realization of all human rights of women and girls.
The United Nations estimates that one in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during their period, which can add up to as much as 20% of a school year.
InFocus
-
Although there has been a remarkable improvement in the provision of sanitary facilities to schools countrywide, about 246 schools in Namibia don't have toilets, according to the ... Read more »
