Windhoek: Public frustration has been mounting over the lack of visible progress at the Independence Stadium, with the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture attributing the prolonged delays to technical approval processes and land acquisition. According to Namibia Press Agency, since the announcement of the 2024/25 national budget in February 2025, Treasury has allocated more than N.dollars 400 million for stadium upgrades and renovations. However, the country's flagship sports facility has yet to see any physical improvements - a matter Namibians have been vocal about on public platforms. In response to queries from Nampa recently, the ministry said expectations that the stadium could be completed within a year were unrealistic, given the scale and technical complexity of the project, which is expected to take between three and four years. It acknowledged that the lack of visible construction has fuelled concern, particularly at a time when Namibia is under growing pressure to upgrade its sports infrastructure to prevent national teams from being forced to stage their home matches abroad. Executive Director of Sport, Gerard Vries told Nampa that the project was temporarily paused to align with the Swapo Party manifesto implementation plan and sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), a move aimed at ensuring strategic coherence and long-term sustainability. He added that the acquisition of four additional erven from the City of Windhoek, intended to expand the stadium footprint, had also contributed to the delay. 'Geotechnical studies are currently underway on the newly acquired land, after which the Ministry of Works and Transport is expected to grant full approval of the feasibility study. These steps are non-negotiable, as they ensure that all structural, safety, and compliance requirements are met before construction begins,' Vries said. Despite the setbacks, the ministry maintains that the project remains on track. 'The lead consultant has already submitted a second design fo llowing extensive consultations with the Directorate of Sport and other stakeholders. The current pace is understandable, given the scale and technical requirements involved. We are working diligently to ensure that visible progress will soon be seen on the ground,' Vries said. Concerns have also been raised that funds earmarked for the upgrades could be reallocated at the end of the financial year due to slow implementation. Vries dismissed such fears, insisting the money would be used for its intended purpose. 'Implementation has gained momentum, the execution rate has improved significantly, and further acceleration is expected as work begins at Independence Stadium and on basic constituency sports facilities. Progress is also being made at the regional and constituency level, where sites have been identified, verified, and audited, and procurement processes for lead consultants and feasibility studies are underway,' he said. The Sport Directorate ED added that the continued absence of 'dust on the groun d' had kept the stadium renovation firmly in the public spotlight, with pressure growing on authorities to turn plans and designs into visible construction that will be seen soon.