Hesron Kapanga 

The sports ministry and its policy implementing agency the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) have still not awarded athletes who won silverware for the country at various international competitions last year.

In 2019, Namibian athletes in different sport codes won medals at championships such as the Africa Games in Morocco, the World Athletics Championships in Doha and World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

This month marks a year since athletes won medals in cycling, archery and boxing at the Africa Games, while the two world championships took place in October and November. Even though the national sports reward policy clearly stipulates that athletes who win silverware for the country must be rewarded for their hard work, the line ministry and the sports commission are yet to reward these athletes.

In an interview with Nampa, Gaby Ahrens, the chairperson of the athlete’s commission in Namibia, said it is really shocking that athletes are yet to be compensated despite their heroic exploits.

“Almost two months ago we wrote a letter to the commission and the minister but the answer we got from them is that our matter is at the highest table but the ministry doesn’t have money. They said once treasury releases their funds for this year’s budget, they will pay these athletes,” she said.

She added that when athletes represent their country at international competitions, they are welcomed by government officials at the airport when they bring home medals but government is at the moment not fulfilling its promise to these athletes.

“Right now, they are giving nothing, it’s really shocking and disheartening as these are events that have been budgeted for,” Ahrens said. She said despite getting a response from the ministry that they do not have funds, the athlete’s commission will continue engaging the ministry.

This news agency also  spoke to NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya, who said the commission has submitted a budget of N$910 000 to its line ministry and is waiting to hear from the acting executive director who they scheduled a meeting with regarding the matter.

Approached for comment, the acting executive director in the sport ministry Sivute Katamba referred all questions to senior sports officer Roger Kambatuku, who by the time of going to print had not responded to the questions posed to him.

For winning gold at the IPC World Athletics Championships, an athlete gets N$100 000, while bronze is N$50 000. Athletes receive N$50 000 if they win a bronze medal at the IAAF World Athletics Championships.

A coach is rewarded N$50 000 for each gold and N$20 000 for each bronze. At the African Games athletes walk away with N$80 000 for each gold, N$60 000 for each silver and N$40 000 for each bronze. Coaches get N$35 000 for each gold, N$25 000 for silver and N$15 000 for bronze. – Nampa