The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service needs its N$1 billion-plus budget for the 2025/2026 financial year approved to meaningfully impact the youth, says ministry executive director Erastus Haitengela.
Last month, the budget was presented to minister of finance and public enterprises Iipumbu Shiimi and minister of economic planning Obeth Kandjoze, who doubles as the National Planning Commission director general.
“We see that if we really look at the needs of the youth, we as the ministry of sport have that responsibility to go and convince the finance ministry that ‘look, this is the future and the future belongs to our constituency who are the young people’. And, they must give us money for those projects,” Haitengela told Desert Radio recently.
He urged sport federations and umbrella bodies to come up with sensible projects backed up by comprehensive research, which must be shared with the sport ministry to ensure they do not miss out on the envisaged funding.
“The challenge is that they [sport federations] know that the government has a budget cycle but they want to come to you at the very last minute, arguing that they are invited to so and so events and need five million.”
“Where will I get five million from today? If you budget properly and you can bring it to us, the government through the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises are always willing to make funds available,” reiterated Haitengela.
Around N$93 million of the N$1,1 billion will be channelled towards preparation for international competitions, Haitengela said.
“The issue of budget constraints is not really a topic. They must make proper and thorough planning to avoid failure,” stressed Haitengela.
He said they are mindful that the ministry of finance does not have a bottomless pit of funds as there are competing priority areas, such as drought, health and education.
Nonetheless, Haitengela is confident of a favourable assessment of their budget, saying the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service has long been an afterthought.
His first priority when he took office in 2022, was to look at critical projects in terms of youth empowerment and sport facilities, he said.
“It is time to recognise the importance and significance of this ministry,” he said.
According to Haitengela, his ministry caters for 71% of the youth population as per the national statistics draft document and it is a constituency between 18 to 35 years.
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