Africa-Press – Namibia. ATHLETICS Namibia (AN) and the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday poured cold water over accusations that they are prejudiced towards athletes with disabilities.
The two bodies are under scrutiny after elite para-athletes Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala, along with their coach Letu Hamhola and guide Sem Shimanda, boycotted Saturday’s Namibia Annual Sport Awards (Nasa). Attending the awards reception would have meant they “condone the ongoing discrimination against people with disabilities”.
Hamhola took to social media to air his frustrations at what he perceives to be perennial systematic unfairness towards his stars, who were overlooked for the coveted MTC Nasa Sport Star of the Year prize, which went to athletics sensation Christine Mboma.
Her training partner, Beatrice Masilingi, and veteran long-distance runner Helalia Johannes completed the shortlist for the N$200 000 award. The awards regulators said Hamhola should have used the official grievance framework within the stipulated time frame. The nominees were announced on 11 October.
“According to the rule book, these complaints should have been lodged within 24 hours of the nomination announcement,” NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya told The Namibian Sport yesterday.
“Also, the nominating body, which is the Namibia National Paralympic Committee (NNPC), should make the appeal – not the coach. But since this is thoroughly late, there is not much we can do. It’s a pity the federation did not read the rule book,” Mwiya said.
Hamhola took exception to the fact that Nambala, who won the best sportsman with a disability award, and Shikongo were not shortlisted for the most valuable prize of the awards, despite their well-documented achievements.
Shikongo claimed the nation’s first medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo with silver in the T11 400m. Nambala, who has won a medal at every world championship since 2013, including gold at the most recent edition in Dubai in 2019 and won two silver medals at the Rio Paralympics five years ago, claimed a bronze in Tokyo.
The review period for this year’s awards was from October 2019 to 5 October 2021. “Despite receiving our nominations, Athletics Namibia has refused to enter any person with disabilities. We must also mention that the NNPC decided to refer us to the NSC instead, and we are still to receive a response,” Hamhola said in a lengthy Facebook post.
“Despite people trying to explain that all are equal, the evidence is visible. It’s heartbreaking, but all we do is represent our country with pride, and the 26 medals won by us [to date] remain a testimony of our patriotism.” Hamhola should stick to his day job and is up for a disciplinary hearing for his public outburst, Mwiya said.
“It is very unfortunate that people don’t read what is written. We encourage a reading culture of documents to remain relevant. The federation is also not happy with such behaviour, and they called me [to say] they will take action,” he said.
AN secretary general Martha Emvula said the nomination of para-athletes is beyond their jurisdiction, and that Hamhola is barking up the wrong tree. “AN is not responsible for paralympic athletics in Namibia. However, on the request of the NNPC, AN has allowed the para-athletes in Namibia to take part in AN competitions,” Emvula said.
“AN is proud and will continue to support and allow para-athletes to partake in AN competitions. AN enjoys a cordial working relationship with the NPC and are intent on strengthening and cementing it beyond competitions to leverage on sharing resources,” she said.
“We always strive for inclusion. It is thus very surprising to learn that we are regarded as a federation that discriminates against para-athletes.” The awards’ primary backers, MTC, says all athletes should be treated uniformly.
“We wish to remind Namibia that how we treat people matters. Let us give our athletes who are differently abled the same respect and recognition when they prepare and win medals,” says MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo.
“They are not only equal human beings, but better than all of us who have all our abilities, because their spirit is defined by perseverance and courage, and we would like to salute them for their bravery and tenacity.”
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