Namibia’s sport bodies have slammed the government’s decision to suspend all financial support to recognised sport federations and umbrella organisations, describing it is an “undoubtedly serious setback”.
Stakeholders say the decision threatens athlete development, competitions and employment opportunities across the country.
This comes after the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture suspended all requests for financial support to sport bodies and sport umbrella organisations, citing mounting financial constraints.
This is contained in a letter dated 15 June from executive director Gerard Vries, which instructs the Namibia Sports Commission to communicate the decision to all recognised sport bodies with immediate effect.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah had stated that sport is listed among her priority areas.
In April, the ministry set aside approximately N$13.5 million for sport development programmes, including N$5 million for mass participation sport programmes, N$3 million for participation in regional games, N$2 million for the Namibia Annual Sport Awards, N$1 million for sport equipment and N$2.5 million to support the professionalisation of sport.
The ministry announced that funding was earmarked for national sport bodies, including the Namibia Rugby Union, Namibia Hockey Union, Namibia Schools Sport Union, Namibia National Paralympic Committee and Namibia National Olympic Committee.
Netball Namibia secretary general Jessica Gaomuses yesterday said the governing body has been “directly affected” by the suspension of government funding.
“Our under-19 and under-23 teams, which serve as the feeder programmes for the senior national team, face an uncertain future without the necessary funding to sustain training camps, competitions and development activities,” she said.
Gaomuses said the decision has a direct and material impact on the ability to fund programmes, competitions and operational costs going forward.
She said among the immediate casualties is participation in Africa Netball slated from 19-26 September in Kenya, which serves as a qualifier for the Netball World Cup.
“Given that the ministry’s suspension applies to all requests for financial support rather than a single line item, the ripple effect will be felt across the federation’s entire programme calendar from grassroots development to national team preparations,” she said.
“Without government support, the cost of moving teams, officials, and equipment across the country for activities will directly impact league competitions at every level, from school leagues, the annual Newspaper Cup, to the MTC Netball Namibia Premier League,” she said.
Gaomuses said she hopes that the “undoubtedly serious setback” is temporary.
She said Netball Namibia has not yet made a full assessment of how the suspension will affect netball programmes fully, “however, given the interconnected nature of the sport development pipeline, any disruption at the grassroots and scholastic levels will inevitably weaken the foundation of the sport.”
Mathew Haikali, founder of a sport consulting and management firm that advocates for the commercialisation, sustainable development and professionalisation of the sport sector as a viable industry in Africa, says the government should reconsider how public funding is allocated to sport.
Haikali says the bigger concern is how funding is managed by some sport organisations.
“We should not cut sport. But we must stop treating it as a sacred cow. Give them the funding on condition of measurable service. If they cannot deliver, redirect those funds to libraries, where service is not a question, but a fact,” he says.
“The ball is in their court. Let’s see if they can pass it,” he says.
He says widespread participation in sport alone does not automatically justify increased public spending.
“If 600 000 people play chess, football or netball, that is a hobby, not a public service. A service like healthcare or education has clear outputs, such as reduced mortality or improved literacy.
“What is sport’s equivalent? Reduced crime, better school attendance, improved mental health? We have no longitudinal data to prove it,” he says.
Former Erongo regional football association coordinator Gibson Goseb says sport in Namibia remains significantly underfunded, and any reduction in government funding will only worsen the challenges facing sporting codes.
Goseb says one possible reason for the limited funding is that some sporting bodies, particularly football, may not always submit their budgets to the government because of international regulations.
“For example, Fifa has strict rules about government interference in football, and that could have an impact on how funding is structured,” he says.
Goseb says sport should not only be viewed as recreation, but also as an important employer, particularly for young people.
“Not everyone will find employment in white-collar or blue-collar jobs. Many people are able to earn a living through sport, and the government should recognise that when making funding decisions.”
Goseb says the government should place sport funding high on its agenda to ensure sporting bodies have the resources needed to operate effectively.
“Without funding, sport organisations cannot implement their strategic plans. Every plan requires financial support because funding is what gives life to those plans,” Goseb says.
He says adequate investment in sport would also help the government address youth unemployment.
“The government has a responsibility to support sporting codes because, in return, they contribute to job creation and youth development,” he says.
Goseb points to the expansion of women’s football across Namibia as an example of a programme that requires greater financial support.
“The Namibia Football Association has expanded women’s football to all regions. We want as many girls as possible to participate, but that requires sufficient funding.”
Goseb says sporting bodies generally look to the government as their primary partner.
Namibian volleyball president Tobias Mwatelulo questions how sport is a priority for the government but currently has no funding.
“It means that if there is no funding, then it means that more activities will not stand, will not proceed, they will be at a standstill. And that’s not what we want to do. Sport codes are definitely now aiming for international participation and national team representation,” he says.
Mwatelulo says the biggest challenge created by the suspension of government funding is transportation, which has traditionally been supported for national events.
