Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) submitted an initial budget request of N$46 million for the 2022/23 financial year, however, there is a great likelihood that they will have to contend with a far slimmer budget.
NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya revealed this recently in an interview with Desert Radio. He said the commission’s initial request may not be approved but he drew up the budget following a needs assessment conducted with their respective affiliates.
Asked about the slight increment allocated to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service, Mwiya revealed that the commission forms part of the budget formulation.
“We have requested N$46 million because we looked at giving grants to struggling codes. We look to possibly help the Namibia Football Association, the Namibia Rugby Union and Netball Namibia.”
Mwiya said motivating reasons include the international commitments that the various sport bodies have lined up this year, including football, rugby, hockey and cricket.
He added that priority and developmental sport codes both need grants to successfully implement their programmes, and for office upkeep. However, Mwiya said one must look at the reality on the ground and not always expect to get what one wants.
Mwiya said funding from the line ministry to the various sport codes scheduled to compete internationally forms part of the Sport Development Fund. “When you talk about the Sport Development Fund, people expect a budget already in the fund but that’s currently not the situation. Yes, resources are limited and it is difficult but we must find a way to assist struggling codes.”
He added that there are important competitions in 2022 like the Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games, NSC Youth Games and the Region 5 Games, for which funds are needed. SPORTS CODES EVALUATION
Mwiya said that sport codes will be evaluated, a process that is undertaken every four years. During the process, there may be sport codes that will be demoted or promoted, due to various factors.
He said the NSC does not only ask for audited financial reports, but must abide by other factors such as good governance, compliance with financial principles, the executive structure as provided by the Sports Act and transformational policy.
Mwiya lashed out at sport codes claiming to be national sport bodies but which only operate in Windhoek. These are some of the factors the NSC will scrutinise when evaluating sport codes.
Mwiya added that some sport commissions in the region look up to the NSC, and Namibia recently concluded an agreement with Botswana, to see how they can learn from their hockey, rugby and cricket administrators, among others.
Mwiya said Zambia is interested in learning from Namibia in terms of policy formulation and the sport reward policy, adopted and approved by the government.
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