Paralympic gold medalist Lahja Ishitile, who won a gold and a bronze medal at the Paris Games last year, was financially rewarded by the government through the National Reward Policy. 

The National Sports Reward Policy, approved in 2018 and implemented in 2019, aims to motivate and reward athletes who achieve accolades at regional, continental, and global levels.

Ishitile (27) won gold in the 400m T11 and bronze in the 200m T11. Unlike previous cases, Ishitile received her financial reward in December, despite winning the medals in September.

Under the National Sports Reward Policy, individual gold medal winners at the Olympic and Paralympic Games receive N$200,000, silver medalists receive N$150,000, and bronze medalists receive N$100,000.

Erastus Haitengela, Executive Director in the Ministry of Sport, Youth, and National Service, confirmed Ishitile's financial reward to Confidente. “The Ministry confirms that Lahja Ishitile has been financially rewarded through the National Sports Commission (NSC), in accordance with the national reward policy. Athletes are rewarded within a reasonable timeframe after winning medals at major international competitions,” said Haitengela.

He urged athletes who have not yet received their rewards to contact the Namibia Sports Commission. “For information on athletes still awaiting rewards, we recommend reaching out to the Namibia Sports Commission. We appreciate your interest in this matter and encourage you to contact the Namibia Sports Commission for further details on the disbursement of reward money,” he said.

Ishitile confirmed to Confidente that she received her money in December, but expressed disappointment about not receiving any news regarding a house.

Four Namibian athletes have received houses following their performances at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Ishitile hopes to become the fifth.

Paralympic athletes Johanna Benson and Ananias Shikongo were the first to receive houses through corporate sponsorships, followed by Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma.

Benson was the first recipient after winning gold at the 2012 London Games, followed by Shikongo with gold from the 2016 Rio Games. Mboma received a house after winning silver in the women's 200m race at the Tokyo 2020 Games, along with Masilingi, who finished sixth in the same event. Both Mboma and Masilingi were 18 at the Tokyo Games.

Another athlete who performed well globally, Paralympian sprinter Johannes Nambala, despite being the first Paralympian to win a world championship for the country in 2013, was not rewarded with a house. Nambala also won two silver medals at the Rio 2016 Games and a bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games but was overlooked by corporate sponsors.

“I did receive the money. The only thing I am waiting for is whether I will be rewarded with a house like other athletes. Maybe it is still coming. I am not sure about that,” said Ishitile.