Omusati governor Erginus Endjala has criticised the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service for failing to construct a single sport facility in the region.
Endjala, speaking during his state of the region address at Outapi yesterday, said during the current financial year the ministry allocated N$3 million for the design and layout of the Outapi Sport Complex but this process has not yet started.
The land for the Outapi Sport Complex, situated along the Outapi-Tsandi road, has been lying idle for many years since it was fenced off.
According to Endjala, Omusati is the third most populous region in the country and it is unacceptable that it does not have sport facilities.
“Disappointingly, it has come to our attention that this year, an amount of N$3 million has been allocated for the design and layout of the Outapi Sport Complex but to date, nothing has been done so far,” Endjala said.
“I want to ask, maybe someone can give me an answer, a populated region like Omusati, that led the establishment of this republic? We are going to 35 years of independence and still talking of a lack of sport facilities. One has to ask, what crime have we committed for us to get this type of punishment? What have we done?”
Endjala said Omusati residents and sport lovers are blaming the region’s leadership for the lack of sport facilities.
He alleged that some residents say they are doing nothing about the situation.
“The problem is responsibility. Who was supposed to take care of it? We have made a lot of attempts to meet with ministry officials and the minister herself but to no avail. I just do not understand. What have we committed as a region to deserve this punishment?”
Endjala asserted that they will not simply sit with their hands folded. He said he and the chairperson of the Omusati Regional Council, Andreas Shintama, would travel to Windhoek to find out why money was allocated for the layout and design of the sport complex but the process has not yet started.
“When are we going to see the green field for our region? That is what we want to hear. I care about N$3 million for design. If you design this sports field, when are you going to construct it? After we die? Or after 100 years? No! We need to take up this thing very seriously,” Endjala said.
He accused the ministry of misconstruing the region’s “kindness” as passivity.
“I want a sport field in Omusati in our lifetime,” Endjala demanded.
Sport ministry spokesperson Aina Shikesho did not respond to questions sent to her yesterday.
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