Sports Act coming soon – Uutoni

WINDHOEK – The revised Sports Act is expected to be finalised soon after extensive consultations by the Namibian government and various stakeholders, Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service, Erastus Uutoni has said.

Speaking during the launch of the National Youth Games in Windhoek on Thursday, Uutoni said he expected the act to be implemented “soon.”

He was responding to questions on why it is taking so long to have the act finalised after it was revealed in November last year that the process was at an advanced stage.

“The Permanent Secretary is on top of that… The Sports Act needs to come out as a matter of urgency so that everything can be tied to it, including the envisaged sports fund and reward policy, amongst other things,” the minister explained.

Uutoni has been vocal about the sports fund, which he says will help in funding the various codes.

The minister said companies, individuals and the government will be asked to contribute to the fund, which will then distribute the funds to the codes.

This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary, Emma Kantema-Gaomas who said part of the delay was due to the change of leadership at the ministry and at the office of the attorney-general.

“We are confident that in the near future this will be looked at very fast. The rewards policy was finalised and it will be handed over to cabinet for approval soon. When you formulate these things (acts and policies) time is needed,” she said.

She further explained that as for the sport fund, stakeholders can go ahead and establish it as it will not be affected by the act, even though it is part of the act.

Kantema-Gaomas said the fund will work efficiently once the prioritisation of the sport codes has been completed, as it will make sure that resources are placed accordingly.

The first ever u20 National Youth Games will be hosted in Windhoek from 10 to 13 May 2018. – Nampa