Athletes battle economic prejudice in Namibia

While still grappling with the legacy of racial discrimination, Namibian athletes are also confronted by economic prejudice from the well-to-do sport codes.

In a recent panel discussion on Desert Radio titled ‘Racism and Discrimination in Sport’, Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said previously disadvantaged communities are battling economic discrimination.

“For a team to go to an event, athletes have to pay because there are no resources that come from the state. These teams are affordability teams, not teams based on merit because if you can afford then you travel with the team,” Mwiya said.

Thus, a gifted athlete who cannot afford the costs involved, will not make the team, he said.

“We have an internal policy at the NSC not to fly athletes when competing in the region, so as to give the economically disadvantaged athletes equal access.”

Former sport commissioner Ndeulipula Hamutumwa said the national sport system needs revision to ensure that the country does not lose out on talent to fly the Namibian flag high.

“The era when we talked about sport as leisure is very outdated,” Hamutumwa said.

“The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service must be streamlined to very few people who will look at the policy intervention. If you do not have money you cannot want to talk about inclusion, if you cannot have money to transform, be it infrastructure or opportunities for young people to go around the world.”

The ever widening gap between the rich and poor is no secret, with private entities with resources controlling the game and often promoting economic discrimination.

“It’s a reality and it’s for the sports ministry to be bold and try to bring the capital into the sports industry. However, the government cannot do it alone by having a treasury to pump money, but create incentives and programmes,” Hamutumwa said.

Former NSC chief administrator Rusten Mogane said initially it was extremely difficult to convince administrators of former ‘white’ sport codes to become members of the commission and denounce the discriminatory pre-independence Sports Council.

“One can say in that context, there was racism in sport. It was clear when one looked at the management and structure, that we urged them to include black people,” Mogane said.

The trio called on the line ministry to do away with the quota system as it is a challenging concept in attaining the desired sport transformation. Instead, there must be a wholesome approach, including policy interventions and investment that encourages all Namibians to participate in sport codes.