Ohangwena breaks ground for Ohaingu sports facility
The Ohangwena Regional Council officially launched the construction of a basic sports facility in Ohaingu Constituency last weekend.
The project is aimed at promoting youth development, job creation and community empowerment through sport.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Ohangwena governor Kadiva Hamutumwa said the project forms part of a national programme to construct sports facilities in all 121 constituencies across the country.
Hamutumwa said the initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to accelerating development and creating opportunities for young people.
“By now, we can all attest that Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah truly means it when she says ‘it is not business as usual’. The construction of basic sports facilities in all 121 constituencies is a testament to urgency, accountability and a clear commitment to deliver practical development to our communities,” she said.
Increase youth employment
The governor explained that sport has been prioritised under the country's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) as a tool to drive youth empowerment, job creation and community development.
According to Hamutumwa, the government aims to increase youth employment from 56.6% to 70% by 2030, while improving participation in sport and expanding its contribution to employment from 1% to 3.5%.
She said sport is not only a recreational activity but also a platform for health promotion, discipline, talent development and national unity.
“Namibia views sport not just as leisure but as a driver of job creation, empowerment and national development,” she said.
Hamutumwa noted that the facility will provide young people in Ohaingu and surrounding communities with a space to participate in organised sporting activities while allowing authorities to identify and nurture emerging talent.
She said many successful athletes across the world started their journeys in simple community sports facilities, adding that Namibia hopes to replicate similar success stories.
“It is in community environments like these where athletes such as Christina Mboma were first discovered,” she said.
The governor added that the development of sports infrastructure also has economic benefits, as sporting events attract vendors and create opportunities for small businesses in surrounding communities.
The project will be implemented by the Roads Contractor Company (RCC), a state-owned enterprise contracted by the Office of the Governor. RCC will work with small and medium enterprises that will be subcontracted to carry out construction work.
'Nurturing talent'
Hamutumwa said the project will also involve graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) institutions to provide them with practical work experience.
She explained that Tvet institutions will be required to maintain a database of unemployed graduates in relevant trades so that they can be recruited for construction projects linked to the sports facility programme.
Meanwhile, Trinitus Consulting Engineers has been appointed by the sports ministry as consulting engineers for the project.
Hamutumwa urged contractors to begin work without delay, saying young people in the community are eager to use the facility once completed.
“This project is not simply about constructing infrastructure; it is about unlocking dreams, nurturing talent and creating opportunities,” she said.
She further called on the community to support the project during construction and ensure that the facility is properly maintained once completed.
The governor also thanked President Nandi-Ndaitwah for decentralising the sports infrastructure programme to regional authorities, saying the move will accelerate development and expand opportunities for local businesses.
“With great pride and a strong sense of responsibility, I hereby declare this groundbreaking ceremony as the formal commencement of the Basic Constituency Sports Infrastructure Project. From today, the work begins,” said Hamutumwa.
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