N$235m for 13 stadiums ‘must be a typing error’

The government’s ambitious plan to start constructing and renovating 13 sports stadiums during this financial year has been met with scepticism.Critics argue that the N$235 million allocated for the project in the current budget is woefully inadequate, compared to earlier estimates that put the cost of renovating the Independence Stadium alone at N$2 billion.This comes in the wake of education and sports minister Sanet Steenkamp’s budget motivation speech on Tuesday, in which she announced the allocation of N$235 million for the construction of six CAF Category 2 stadiums and seven CAF Category 3 stadiums. The initiative aims to ensure that Namibia’s sports facilities meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards. Currently, national teams, including the Brave Warriors, are forced to play official home matches abroad due to substandard local venues.Industry experts estimate that building a single Category 3 stadium could cost over N$2 billion. The government hopes to complete these projects within President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s five-year term, which ends in March 2030.According to the budget, N$35 million has been allocated for the six regional Category 2 stadiums - roughly N$6 million per stadium. These will each have a seating capacity of around 10 000, similar to Windhoek’s Sam Nujoma Stadium, which cost N$64 million some 20 years ago,These stadiums are planned for Omuthiya, Gobabis, Mariental, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo, and Nkurenkuru.An additional N$200 million is earmarked for the construction of Category 3 stadiums to enable national teams to host matches locally. These stadiums will be built in Oshakati, Rundu, Outapi, Swakopmund, Eenhana, and Keetmanshoop, with upgrades planned for Windhoek’s Independence Stadium.In her address, Steenkamp emphasised that the stadium developments align with the Swapo Party’s manifesto implementation plan, which targets completion ahead of the 2029 general election.Earlier this year, Sports Ministry executive director Erastus Haitengela confirmed that a feasibility report projected the cost of renovating Independence Stadium alone at N$2 billion. The current N$200 million budget for seven stadiums—most of which would be built from the ground up—has therefore raised serious concerns.‘It must be a typo’Brave Warriors legend and football club owner Congo Hindjou said the government 's budget allocation fails to match its lofty ambitions.“The big talk and the actual money don’t align,” Hindjou remarked. “We all saw Haitengela on TV saying a Category 3 stadium would cost over N$2 billion. So how can the government expect to build 13 stadiums with just N$235 million? Maybe there was a typo in the figures.”Providing an update on Independence Stadium, Steenkamp said the ministry has made significant progress, with detailed design work currently underway. “Once finalised, procurement of construction services will begin. The feasibility study also recommended acquiring additional land surrounding the existing stadium to accommodate the planned upgrades,” she said.‘Don’t reinvent the wheel’Veteran football analyst Olsen Kahiriri welcomed the initiative but questioned its implementation strategy.“It’s a great idea - we do need more stadiums. But why reinvent the wheel? Most schools already have basic stadiums. The government should rather channel funds into upgrading these facilities to serve both schools and their communities. You can’t act as if nothing existed before you arrived,” he said.Kahiriri also raised concerns over the procurement process for Independence Stadium, urging transparency regarding the firms previously appointed to the project - Marley Tjitjo Architects, Denchi Consulting Engineers, and Richard Frankle & Partners Quantity Surveyors.“Has the procurement process been reversed? Cancelling a contract isn’t something you just wake up and do - it’s a process. The nation deserves clarity,” he said.“Nonetheless, I appreciate that we now have a government talking seriously about prioritising sport and improving infrastructure.”When asked if this year’s budget allocation was ambitious enough to kickstart the construction and renovation of 13 stadiums within the proposed timeframe, deputy sports minister Dino Ballotti referred queries to the ministry’s spokesperson. – mariud@nsh.com.na

N$235m for 13 stadiums ‘must be a typing error’

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-21

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N$235m for 13 stadiums ‘must be a typing error’

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-21

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