The Vice President of Namibia, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, has expressed her frustration with the slow progress on the renovation of the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.

Speaking at a town council event at Onawa, Ndaitwa emphasised that someone would be held accountable for the delays.

The Independence Stadium has been declared unfit for international matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the World Football governing body FIFA since 2022.

As a result, the Namibia national team, the Brave Warriors, has been forced to play their home games in neighbouring South Africa. Despite allocated funds for the renovation, the bidding process has reportedly hindered progress.

According to the NFA, the team spends over a million dollars per game when playing in South Africa, impacting both the national team and local businesses that used to sell their products at the stadium.

Numerous Namibians have called on the government to address the stadium issue, but visible progress has been slow.

Ndaitwa previously received assurance that the renovation work would begin on August 28th with the appointment of a contractor. However, she has now expressed disappointment that this has not materialised.

The Brave Warriors are preparing to play in the AFCON 2025 qualifier against Cameroon on the seventh of this month and again against Kenya on the tenth.

Ndaitwah has emphasised the importance of holding individuals accountable for the delays and ensuring that the project is completed as soon as possible.

Contacted for comment, the Minister of Sport, Youth, and National Service, Agnes Tjongarero, indicated that she was currently out of the country and unable to respond immediately.