‘Budget should target key areas’
The national budget was tabled on Thursday, with many stating that proper planning should look at key focus areas.
Limba Mupetami
WINDHOEK
For years, the ministry of sport has been treated like an unwelcome stepchild with the way the national budget was allocated.
But for the first time in years, it looks like sport is slowly being welcomed into the elite family.
Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi last week availed N$330.9 million to the sport ministry for the 2022/23 fiscal year. This is a 20.5% increase from the previous year’s N$279 million.
Government seems motivated to improve the sports sector which has for years been sidelined – to the point where athletes did not receive adequate funding when preparing for events and sports facilities fell into disrepair, leading sports minister Agnes Tjongarero to organise a clean-up campaign to cut the overgrown grass at Independence Stadium.
While public outcry for improvements in infrastructure, better training equipment for athletes and better preparatory funds around the country continues, former sport minister Erastus Uutoni is positive that with the increase in the budget allocation, things can only get better.
Sharing the small cake
“The finance minister really tried his best to share the small cake among the ministries, despite the many challenges and demands from various corners of society.
“This is good because we need to attract sport lovers and as well as visitors to the country, and improvements need to be made in terms of sport facility renovations,” he said.
A local sports lover who did not want to be named said support should be injected into federations in order for Namibia to produce elite athletes, and that fund allocations should be given in such a way that they benefit administrators and allows them to run sports events successfully.
WINDHOEK
For years, the ministry of sport has been treated like an unwelcome stepchild with the way the national budget was allocated.
But for the first time in years, it looks like sport is slowly being welcomed into the elite family.
Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi last week availed N$330.9 million to the sport ministry for the 2022/23 fiscal year. This is a 20.5% increase from the previous year’s N$279 million.
Government seems motivated to improve the sports sector which has for years been sidelined – to the point where athletes did not receive adequate funding when preparing for events and sports facilities fell into disrepair, leading sports minister Agnes Tjongarero to organise a clean-up campaign to cut the overgrown grass at Independence Stadium.
While public outcry for improvements in infrastructure, better training equipment for athletes and better preparatory funds around the country continues, former sport minister Erastus Uutoni is positive that with the increase in the budget allocation, things can only get better.
Sharing the small cake
“The finance minister really tried his best to share the small cake among the ministries, despite the many challenges and demands from various corners of society.
“This is good because we need to attract sport lovers and as well as visitors to the country, and improvements need to be made in terms of sport facility renovations,” he said.
A local sports lover who did not want to be named said support should be injected into federations in order for Namibia to produce elite athletes, and that fund allocations should be given in such a way that they benefit administrators and allows them to run sports events successfully.
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