By Carlos Kambaekwa
WINDHOEK
The Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture John Mutorwa has strongly advised executive members of the National Sports Commission to get their ducks in a row and start paying serious attention to the implementation of Part 3 of the Namibian Sport Act of 2003.
Mutorwa was officiating at the historic official inauguration of the modernized Namibia Sports Commission Office Complex in Eros, east Windhoek, on Tuesday night.
The particular part of the Act that the minister was referring to deals primarily with the financial provisions, including the complete and proper establishment of the long awaited Sports Development Fund.
Mutorwa also urged the National Sports Commission and the Directorate of Sport to speed up their efforts in order to finalize the revision of the National Sport Policy and bring it in line with the letter and spirit of the Act as well as the good practices globally.
“It’s of utmost importance to foster closer relationships with the private sector,” he emphasized.
In his concluding remarks, the line minister paid tribute to the Brave Warriors and wished them well ahead of the team’s second appearance at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana next month.
However, the minister had some harsh words for some of those sporting disciplines which have been continuously found snoozing whenever it came to preparing their athletes for major international events.
Apart from the African Cup of Nations, Namibia is expected to dispatch a large contingent of athletes to the biennial Zone Six Under-20 Youth Games in South Africa next year.
“The Beijing Olympics are just around the corner in China in about nine months and we should not allow ourselves to be caught with our nappies down, so I hope and trust the athletes are in top gear already,” said Mutorwa.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission Stanley Simataa credited the previous executive for having laid the groundwork and sound infrastructure that ultimately led to the acquisition of the N$4,1-million property.