Executive director in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service Gerhard Vries has clarified that the ministry’s development (capital) budget ceiling currently stands at N$243 million.
Government continues to prioritise youth and sport development across the country.
Vries was responding to questions from New Era regarding whether the N$750 million allocated to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service in the national budget announced on 26 February would be sufficient to meet the ministry’s strategic plans. Questions were also raised about the state of key sports infrastructure, particularly the Sam Nujoma Stadium, which still requires additional financial support for upgrades.
Vries said the ministry’s development budget is structured into two core programmes, namely Youth Infrastructure Development and Integrated Sport Development.
These aim to improve sporting facilities and promote youth empowerment
initiatives across the country.
Addressing concerns around the Sam Nujoma Stadium, Vries said the facility is not funded under Vote 27, which represents the ministry’s capital development portfolio.
“The budget is structured under two core development programmes: Youth Infrastructure Development and Integrated Sport Development. It is important to clarify that the Sam Nujoma Stadium is not funded under Vote 27, because it is owned by the City of Windhoek. Therefore, it does not appear in the ministry’s capital project portfolio,” he noted.
Vries stressed that, although the N$243.4 million development budget allows the ministry to implement several projects across different regions, large-scale infrastructure developments require long-term financing.
“The ministry notes that, while the N$243 400 000 development budget enables meaningful progress across several regions, major projects require multi-year financing and alternative mechanisms such as public-private partnerships,” he added.