Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has set aside N$35 million to build sports stadiums in all 14 regions.
Each stadium will have a seating capacity of 10,000.
Minister Sanet Steenkamp made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday while motivating the ministry’s N$1.2 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year.
She stated that the Confederation of African Football will build the stadiums to meet category two standards.
Each regional capital will have a facility to give young people across the country access to proper sports infrastructure.
This follows after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in her maiden State of the Nation Address (Sona) last month that the government will start building and renovating seven CAF category three stadiums, each with 30,000 seats, in Oshakati, Rundu, Windhoek (Independence Stadium), Outapi, Swakopmund, Eenhana, and Keetmanshoop.
She has also said multi-purpose youth centres will be established in Mariental, Nkurenkuru, and Opuwo.
Nandi-Ndaitwah noted that six CAF category two stadiums, each with 10 000 seats, will be built in Omuthiya, Mariental, Gobabis, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo, and Nkurenkuru.
Steenkamp told Parliament that her ministry has already contacted all 14 regions and received feedback on site identification.
She said the aim is to start constructing at least one facility in each region this financial year.
Procurement for consultants to carry out feasibility studies at the identified sites will begin this month.
“This is a critical step because it will provide clarity on a number of issues, including current land ownership and the technical feasibility of the identified land,” she said.
Steenkamp also said the upgrade of the Independence Stadium is moving forward.
“We have completed the feasibility study, which recommends acquiring additional land around the current stadium. We are developing a detailed design and documentation. Once completed, procurement for construction will start,” she said.
In February, the government announced a N$2 billion upgrade of Windhoek’s dilapidated Independence Stadium, expected to take three to four years.
The project follows a feasibility study by Marley Tjitjo Architects, Richard Frankle & Partners, and Denchi Consulting Engineers. Built before independence, the stadium no longer meets CAF standards.
According to Steenkamp, the ministry has allocated N$7 million for national teams’ preparations.
“The preparatory stage is an integral part of elite athletes, and this is linked to elite athletes’ participation in international sports competitions,” she said.
She also revealed that a total of N$4 million is budgeted to reward athletes and coaches under the 2018 National Sport Reward Policy.
N$3 million is set aside for the National Annual Sport Awards, while N$2.5 million will support nominees at the Regional Sports Awards.
The ministry also plans to invest N$7 million in the Sport Mass Participation Programme to support recreational sports activities across the country.
