World Cup 2010 fever hits Parliament

NAMIBIA’S tourism sector could benefit from the 2010 soccer World Cup to be hosted by South Africa, but should start preparing for that event, a member of the opposition said in the National Assembly.

Arnold Tjihuiko of the Nudo party said South Africa had already set plans in motion like developing a database of tourist accommodations, addressing poor service skills and co-operating with players in the tourism industry. “We were informed (during the April parliamentary session) by Fisheries Minster Dr Abraham Iyambo that an unknown Cabinet committee exists, but interestingly we, the lawmakers of this country, who approve the National Budget, are kept in the dark about it,” Tjihuiko said in the National Assembly last week.”I am not surprised because secrecy and suspicion have become the rule rather than the exception among the ruling elite in Namibia,” the Nudo MP added.”When will the nation at large be informed about the opportunities which are to unfold? Where can one access funds and where is training provided to meet the required international standards?” he asked.”Or are we waiting for members of that committee and their friends to secure the best opportunities before the rest of the people may be informed?” The Minister for Youth, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, said in his contribution that heads of state at the 2006 summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) last August discussed the event and had urged all member states concerned to prepare, plan and co-ordinate activities at local and regional level.”A ministerial committee was formed under the chairmanship of Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko,” Mutorwa told the House, “while a sub-committee and a technical committee were set up as well.”The sub-committee was chaired by himself, Mutorwa said, and the Minster of Environment and Tourism was the co-chair.Other relevant ministries also served on that committee, plus the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and the private sector.”The technical committee already submitted a report on the issue which I shall bring to the ministerial sub-committee and from there it will go to Cabinet for deliberation and endorsement,” Mutorwa added.”After that process, the document becomes public and will be brought to the National Assembly.”The Sport Minister noted that the preparations would also apply to the African Cup of Nations, which will take place a few months before the Fifa World Cup.Mutorwa did not elaborate on any details with regard to Government’s preparations for the two soccer tournaments.”Every interested individual can contact me or the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for more information,” Mutorwa told the National Assembly.However, the private tourism sector is less optimistic about a possible influx of tourists to Namibia for the soccer events.”International experience shows that soccer fans are not what you would call regular sight-seeing tourists.We don’t think that soccer fans travelling to South Africa will also tour Namibia or Botswana before or after the world cup in large numbers,” the source said.”Namibia could benefit by becoming well known internationally through the media, should the one or other soccer team come here for training sessions before the soccer cup, or if some of the friendly matches are played here.”Meanwhile, the German Football Association has decided to send a delegation to Namibia soon to investigate whether Germany’s national team would stay in Namibia to get accustomed to the climate ahead of the World Cup.”We were informed (during the April parliamentary session) by Fisheries Minster Dr Abraham Iyambo that an unknown Cabinet committee exists, but interestingly we, the lawmakers of this country, who approve the National Budget, are kept in the dark about it,” Tjihuiko said in the National Assembly last week.”I am not surprised because secrecy and suspicion have become the rule rather than the exception among the ruling elite in Namibia,” the Nudo MP added.”When will the nation at large be informed about the opportunities which are to unfold? Where can one access funds and where is training provided to meet the required international standards?” he asked.”Or are we waiting for members of that committee and their friends to secure the best opportunities before the rest of the people may be informed?” The Minister for Youth, Sport and Culture, John Mutorwa, said in his contribution that heads of state at the 2006 summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) last August discussed the event and had urged all member states concerned to prepare, plan and co-ordinate activities at local and regional level.”A ministerial committee was formed under the chairmanship of Trade and Industry Minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko,” Mutorwa told the House, “while a sub-committee and a technical committee were set up as well.”The sub-committee was chaired by himself, Mutorwa said, and the Minster of Environment and Tourism was the co-chair.Other relevant ministries also served on that committee, plus the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and the private sector.”The technical committee already submitted a report on the issue which I shall bring to the ministerial sub-committee and from there it will go to Cabinet for deliberation and endorsement,” Mutorwa added.”After that process, the document becomes public and will be brought to the National Assembly.”The Sport Minister noted that the preparations would also apply to the African Cup of Nations, which will take place a few months before the Fifa World Cup.Mutorwa did not elaborate on any details with regard to Government’s preparations for the two soccer tournaments.”Every interested individual can contact me or the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for more information,” Mutorwa told the National Assembly.However, the private tourism sector is less optimistic about a possible influx of tourists to Namibia for the soccer events.”International experience shows that soccer fans are not what you would call regular sight-seeing tourists.We don’t think that soccer fans travelling to South Africa will also tour Namibia or Botswana before or after the world cup in large numbers,” the source said.”Namibia could benefit by becoming well known internationally through the media, should the one or other soccer team come here for training sessions before the soccer cup, or if some of the friendly matches are played here.”Meanwhile, the German Football Association has decided to send a delegation to Namibia soon to investigate whether Germany’s national team would stay in Namibia to get accustomed to the climate ahead of the World Cup.