Govt's N$235m for stadiums ‘must be a typing error’

Critics have argued that the N$235 million allocated to government’s ambitious programme to start constructing and renovating 13 sports stadiums during this financial year is peanuts when juxtaposed with earlier projections that renovating Independence Stadium alone would cost a massive N$2 billion.Government’s plan is to ensure the facilities meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards, with national football teams - including the Brave Warriors - currently playing official home matches abroad.This follows sports minister Sanet Steenkamp’s budget motivation speech on Tuesday, which saw N$235 million allocated for the construction of six CAF category 2 stadiums and seven CAF category 3 stadiums.The CAF category 2 regional sports stadiums of 10 000 seats were allocated N$35 million, with N$200 million going to CAF category 3 stadiums to enable the national team to host its home matches in the country.Steenkamp’s statement indicated that the allocation is in line with the Swapo Party Manifesto Implementation Plan (SMIP), which aims to have the stadiums completed before the next elections in 2029.In her state of the nation (Sona) address in April, president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that the category 3 stadiums will be in Oshakati, Rundu, Outapi, Swakopmund, Eenhana, Keetmanshoop and Windhoek’s Independence Stadium.Reports in February this year revealed that sports ministry’s executive director Erastus Haitengela confirmed that a feasibility report indicated renovations of the Independence Stadium, which alone would cost an estimated N$2 billion.This has led the public to take the allocated funds with a pinch of salt, as the N$200 million allocation toward N$2 billion renovations presents a daunting challenge for the government within the stipulated four years.‘It must be a typing error’Weighing in, Brave Warriors legend and football club owner Congo Hindjou said the government’s bold rhetoric does not match its budgetary allocation. “The big talks and the allocated money are not talking to each other,” he said.Hindjou referred to the sports ministry’s executive director, Erastus Haitengela, who earlier this year stated that building a Category 3 stadium would cost over N$2 billion.“We all saw him on TV saying this. So, it’s shocking that the government believes it can begin constructing 13 stadiums this year with just N$235 million allocated. Even refurbishing the Independence Stadium alone would require significantly more. Maybe there was a typo in the figures presented - it must be a typing error,” he added.Reports by this publication in January revealed that a similar 33 000-seater CAF-standardised stadium being built in Chad started construction in 2016 with a budget of N$2.8 billion, and it is yet to be completed nearly a decade later.Giving an update on the Independence Stadium, Steenkamp said the ministry has made significant headway, with detailed design and documentation currently under development.“Once finalised, procurement of works will commence. The feasibility study report was complemented with recommendations for the acquisition of additional land around the existing stadium required to accommodate the envisaged upgraded stadium,” her statement read.President Nandi-Ndaitwah indicated that the CAF category 2 stadiums will be in Omuthiya, Mariental, Gobabis, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo and Nkurenkuru.‘Don’t reinvent the wheel’Giving his two cents on the matter, veteran football commentator Olsen Kahiriri admitted that one would not want to shoot down the government in respect of trying to construct 13 stadiums.“It's a great initiative, because we need as many stadiums as possible. But why do we want to reinvent the wheel? Why do we want to construct new stadiums? There are already stadiums at [almost every school] in this country. Rather allocate this money to upgrading stadiums at the schools to benefit the school and community. You can’t pretend as if there was nothing before your arrival,” he remarked.Regarding Steenkamp’s remarks about procurement on the Independence Stadium yet to be finalised, Kahiriri implored the government to clear the air on what would happen to Marley Tjitjo Architects, Denchi Consulting Engineers and Richard Frankle and Partners Quantity Surveyors - who were appointed by the ministry to spearhead the project last December.“Have they reversed the previous procurement? You just don’t wake up in the morning and cancel the contract. It’s a process. They must tell the nation,” he urged.“[Nonetheless,] I appreciate the fact that we now have a government that speaks about trying to prioritise sports and trying to build stadiums and bring improvement.”When contacted for comment on whether the ministry has the capacity to pull off constructing and renovating 13 sports stadiums, given the time frames and allocated resources, deputy sports minister Dino Ballotti opted for the ministry’s spokesperson to respond on the matter.- mariud@nsh.com.na Independence Stadium. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Govt's N$235m for stadiums ‘must be a typing error’

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-20

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Govt's N$235m for stadiums ‘must be a typing error’

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-20

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