No renovations yet on Gibeon stadium

KEETMANSHOOP – The public sports stadium at the village of Gibeon, once regarded as a Mecca for football in the South, remains in a serious state of dilapidation more than six years after the Ministry of Sport allocated funds for its renovation.

The Ministry of Sport approved a budget of about N$450 000 in 2003 for the renovation of the sports stadium at the southern village. The funds were allegedly channelled through the Works Ministry, which was to oversee the renovations.The project was intended to be implemented in three phases, including the building of a pre-cast wall around the sports complex, renovation of the existing pavilion and installation of electricity.However, Nampa has learned that only orders for the construction of the pre-cast wall and the electrification process were submitted on time to be considered for the 2003/04 financial year budget.The tender for the electrification phase that was estimated at N$40 000 was allegedly revoked and a tender was put out only for the construction of a pre-cast wall.A source within the Works Ministry based in Mariental told Nampa on Wednesday that a tender for the construction of the pre-cast wall was awarded to a company named Namibia Renovations (NR) in 2003.However, according to the source who was closely linked with the project, the company, which initially undertook to complete the work in two weeks, vanished into thin air after just a few days.The total cost of the construction of the pre-cast wall was estimated at around N$160 000.No contact details of NR except for its address, given as PO Box 3055 Windhoek, are indicated on a requisition for expenditure form submitted to the Works Ministry, signed on March 3, 2003.The Works Ministry has since initiated disciplinary action against its employees that were involved in the project.”They (Ministry of Works) are busy investigating us but nothing has been done to the contractor.I do not know whether the contractor has any close family links with people in higher offices,” the source said.When pressed by Nampa to reveal the whereabouts or contact details of the management of Namibia Renovations, the source could only say: “The man disappeared completely.His phone is off and his car could also not be traced.He ran away.”The source termed the current investigations from the head office of the Works Ministry a “witch-hunt” on innocent people.The Director of Works, Ben Booysen, could not be reached for comment as he is allegedly on leave until next week.Meanwhile, when approached for comment the acting village secretary of Gibeon, Amandla Isaaks, could only say that the issue is complicated and is receiving attention.”We cannot really divulge any information at this stage,” she said.The soccer field at the Gibeon Stadium was the envy of many sports lovers in the past because of its excellent playing surface despite only a gravel field and teams from major towns in the South such as Mariental and Keetmanshoop used to stage their tournaments there.But for now, the stadium will lie idle in a state of ruin, much like many other buildings at the village, such as the former post office that is showing serious signs of decay.The stadium was constructed in 1986 and has been in its current state since 1993.NampaThe funds were allegedly channelled through the Works Ministry, which was to oversee the renovations.The project was intended to be implemented in three phases, including the building of a pre-cast wall around the sports complex, renovation of the existing pavilion and installation of electricity.However, Nampa has learned that only orders for the construction of the pre-cast wall and the electrification process were submitted on time to be considered for the 2003/04 financial year budget.The tender for the electrification phase that was estimated at N$40 000 was allegedly revoked and a tender was put out only for the construction of a pre-cast wall.A source within the Works Ministry based in Mariental told Nampa on Wednesday that a tender for the construction of the pre-cast wall was awarded to a company named Namibia Renovations (NR) in 2003.However, according to the source who was closely linked with the project, the company, which initially undertook to complete the work in two weeks, vanished into thin air after just a few days.The total cost of the construction of the pre-cast wall was estimated at around N$160 000.No contact details of NR except for its address, given as PO Box 3055 Windhoek, are indicated on a requisition for expenditure form submitted to the Works Ministry, signed on March 3, 2003.The Works Ministry has since initiated disciplinary action against its employees that were involved in the project.”They (Ministry of Works) are busy investigating us but nothing has been done to the contractor.I do not know whether the contractor has any close family links with people in higher offices,” the source said.When pressed by Nampa to reveal the whereabouts or contact details of the management of Namibia Renovations, the source could only say: “The man disappeared completely.His phone is off and his car could also not be traced.He ran away.”The source termed the current investigations from the head office of the Works Ministry a “witch-hunt” on innocent people.The Director of Works, Ben Booysen, could not be reached for comment as he is allegedly on leave until next week.Meanwhile, when approached for comment the acting village secretary of Gibeon, Amandla Isaaks, could only say that the issue is complicated and is receiving attention.”We cannot really divulge any information at this stage,” she said.The soccer field at the Gibeon Stadium was the envy of many sports lovers in the past because of its excellent playing surface despite only a gravel field and teams from major towns in the South such as Mariental and Keetmanshoop used to stage their tournaments there.But for now, the stadium will lie idle in a state of ruin, much like many other buildings at the village, such as the former post office that is showing serious signs of decay.The stadium was constructed in 1986 and has been in its current state since 1993.Nampa