Blantyre, September 26: Malawi’s Youth and Sports Minister Grace Chiumia has disclosed that the country’s oldest soccer cathedral, Kamuzu Stadium which is in the commercial capital Blantyre will be razed down and a totally new structure will be erected.
Chiumia was quoted by Malawi’s online media mid this week confirming talks that will facilitate the demolition and the construction of the new facility have already commenced.
Initially, Malawi authorities were planned to refurbish the facility by renovating the dilapidated stands but this idea was abandoned.
This followed recommendation from Confederation of African Football (CAF) security officer, Nicholas Musonye who stated that the renovation of some of the facility’s damaged stands would not provide a permanent solution.
Chiumia was quoted by Malawi’s online media mid this week confirming talks that will facilitate the demolition and the construction of the new facility have already commenced.
Initially, Malawi authorities were planned to refurbish the facility by renovating the dilapidated stands but this idea was abandoned.
This followed recommendation from Confederation of African Football (CAF) security officer, Nicholas Musonye who stated that the renovation of some of the facility’s damaged stands would not provide a permanent solution.
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The former Sports Minister in President Joyce Banda administration, Enoch Chihana is on the record to have agreed with recommendations made by Musonye for the old stadium to be demolished.
Chihana told the local media that upon demolishing the oldest soccer shrine authorities would enter into Public Private Partnership (PPP) with unnamed South African to rebuild and operate the new facility.
He said at the time that the stadium would be commercialised but remain a public property with government retaining shares in the proposed business venture.
However, Chiumia has not yet explained how the proposed reconstructed stadium will be run and who will bankroll the project once the demolition exercise has been carried out.
This followed recent media reports in the local media that the new stadium currently being built in the capital Lilongwe with funding from the Chinese government will be expensive to run once in operation.
Nonetheless, news that a new structure is in offing in Blantyre has received a further boost with State President Peter Muthalika Press Officer, Frederick Ndala also commenting on the issue in a story published in the country’s online tabloid Nyasatimes.
“The initial plan was to build a completely new stadium altogether in Blantyre, but now that some information on the current state of the Kamuzu Stadium has emerged, government may consider demolishing the current stadium to put up a totally new structure in that place,” he said.
However, Ndala signalled that government will take this course of action upon getting technical opinion from relevant experts in the construction sector.
“Although this [demolition and construction of new structure] will depend on some technical opinions and recommendations,” he added.
Chihana told the local media that upon demolishing the oldest soccer shrine authorities would enter into Public Private Partnership (PPP) with unnamed South African to rebuild and operate the new facility.
He said at the time that the stadium would be commercialised but remain a public property with government retaining shares in the proposed business venture.
However, Chiumia has not yet explained how the proposed reconstructed stadium will be run and who will bankroll the project once the demolition exercise has been carried out.
This followed recent media reports in the local media that the new stadium currently being built in the capital Lilongwe with funding from the Chinese government will be expensive to run once in operation.
Nonetheless, news that a new structure is in offing in Blantyre has received a further boost with State President Peter Muthalika Press Officer, Frederick Ndala also commenting on the issue in a story published in the country’s online tabloid Nyasatimes.
“The initial plan was to build a completely new stadium altogether in Blantyre, but now that some information on the current state of the Kamuzu Stadium has emerged, government may consider demolishing the current stadium to put up a totally new structure in that place,” he said.
However, Ndala signalled that government will take this course of action upon getting technical opinion from relevant experts in the construction sector.
“Although this [demolition and construction of new structure] will depend on some technical opinions and recommendations,” he added.
By: Joel Chirwa
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