Malawi to learn stadium management from Zambia

Government has arranged a trip to Zambia next month for officials in the Ministry of Sports to learn how to manage the Chinese-funded stadium being built in Lilongwe.

China already built a similar stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.

In an interview with Weekend Nation, deputy principal secretary in the ministry, Symon Maliko, said the orientation is to prepare for eventual takeover of the facility from the Ministry of Lands.

“We have never had an experience of running or I should say managing a stadium of such magnitude. It is important that we go and learn from our friends,” said Maliko.

Earlier this year Maliko led a delegation from his ministry to a seminar in Beijing, China organised by that country’s Ministry of Commerce.

While in China, the delegation also had a feel of what it takes to manage a stadium when they visited the Birdnest Stadium that hosted the 2009 Olympics.

The $70 million (K26.6 billion) stadium built in Lilongwe boasts an extendable roof, electronic and electrical equipment, an electronic scoreboard, 110 closed-circuit television cameras and a posh VIP lounge.

Once completed, 85 percent of the stadium will have covered stands with in-built floodlights.

Sports Minister Grace Chiumia said maintenance of the stadium, which is earmarked for completion next November, will be in millions of kwacha and, as a ministry, they will lobby Parliament to include costs in the 2015 financial budget.

She said expenditure on staff and other activities such as security can add up to K1.7 million per month.