Sport can significantly contribute to the economic development of Namibia, the well-being of the nation, and empower young people to discover themselves and play a role in shaping their future, said Vice President of Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah yesterday afternoon at the Old State House in Windhoek.
She candidly said that issues of infrastructure are not a laughing matter, and that policies should be well structured to ease and smoothen the process of development.
“I don’t like the phrase ‘work in progress’. I have been following the renovation of the Sam Nujoma Stadium, and it is true that some of the laws we put in place are working against us. The money is not the problem. The issue is that when tenders are given to some, others complain,” admitted Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The lawmaker said this while addressing the Brave Warriors upon their return from South Africa after participating in the Cosafa Cup tournament, where they lost 5-0 in the final at the hands of Angola.
She added that just last week, she received a programme leading to the starting of the renovation of the Independence Stadium.
“I hope that by the 28 August, a successful bidder will be awarded the tender. I am following it with kin interest, because I want it done. The whole government is sitting on it so that the stadium’s renovation can start,” she added.
Nandi-Ndaitwah further added that she played squash and netball in her youth, and can resonate with the expectations of the government and key industry players in providing necessary infrastructural support for the country to thrive.
“I am not joking, and this is not a political campaign. Sports and the creative industry should be added as part of our economic sectors. I put them in this order: agriculture, mining, tourism, fisheries, and then sport and creative industries,” she passionately stated.
She further added that with an estimated budget of N$8 billion, every Namibian constituency will be able to have a standard sports field, a football pitch, netball, basket and volleyball courts. That’s basic in Namibia, and it is possible,” she said.
“With that amount, every regional capital should be able to have at least grade two sports complexes, and then we must make sure we have five complexes that are at grade three. I have done my homework. It is possible.”
In addition, Michael Situde, an executive member of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), who was also in attendance, added that calls have been made to municipal councils to provide land to the NFA, so that they can start building regional offices for leadership to administer football, and not from their houses or from the boots of their cars, but to have proper infrastructure where they can sit and administer football.
“We are acknowledging the fact that the Namibian government is working hard, and to ensure the national team plays its games in Namibia. Regarding the renovation at the Independence Stadium, over the past few months, we have seen how laws are preventing this process. But I am pleading with the government to assist the ministry of sport to bring a few exemptions so that this process can be faster. We want the team to play their home matches here,” he indicated.