EDITORIAL: Independence Stadium requires tender exemption
The Public Procurement Act has created congestion in the public procurement system, a situation that has a negative impact on the country’s development agenda.
For this reason, we have seen government adopt tender exemptions in order to get certain jobs done. One of the urgent matters – although politicians do not see it that way – is the refurbishment of the Independence Stadium.
It was reported this week that the search for a successful bidder to refurbish the facility is experiencing delays. This, after the process was cancelled and restarted on 3 July due to some potential bidders challenging the procurement procedures, The Namibian reported.
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, when she recently hosted the Brave Warriors players and technical team after their impressive performance in the just-ended Cosafa Cup, quipped that plans to rectify the stadium remains at the top of government’s agenda. This echoed similar sentiments by finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi, while appearing on The Agenda recently.
The stadium has been dysfunctional for years and taxpayer money has been spent on sending national football teams to play their ‘home’ matches abroad, which requires heavy spending on air fare, hotels and training facilities in high-end cities like Johannesburg.
This month, Cosafa wrestled the under-17 men’s championship away from Namibia and handed it to Mozambique because we do not have fitting facilities to even host a kiddies’ tournament.
The question, therefore, is: Why has government not explored the tender exemption route – especially in this election year when stakes are very high – to complete this project speedily, and perhaps to appease, in some way, the disenfranchised youth?
For this reason, we have seen government adopt tender exemptions in order to get certain jobs done. One of the urgent matters – although politicians do not see it that way – is the refurbishment of the Independence Stadium.
It was reported this week that the search for a successful bidder to refurbish the facility is experiencing delays. This, after the process was cancelled and restarted on 3 July due to some potential bidders challenging the procurement procedures, The Namibian reported.
Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, when she recently hosted the Brave Warriors players and technical team after their impressive performance in the just-ended Cosafa Cup, quipped that plans to rectify the stadium remains at the top of government’s agenda. This echoed similar sentiments by finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi, while appearing on The Agenda recently.
The stadium has been dysfunctional for years and taxpayer money has been spent on sending national football teams to play their ‘home’ matches abroad, which requires heavy spending on air fare, hotels and training facilities in high-end cities like Johannesburg.
This month, Cosafa wrestled the under-17 men’s championship away from Namibia and handed it to Mozambique because we do not have fitting facilities to even host a kiddies’ tournament.
The question, therefore, is: Why has government not explored the tender exemption route – especially in this election year when stakes are very high – to complete this project speedily, and perhaps to appease, in some way, the disenfranchised youth?
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Namibian Sun
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