Ministry of Transport and Public Works’ Buildings Department has recommended an independent structural engineering consultant to undertake a Kamuzu Stadium extensive structural assessment.
The recommendation comes after the department’s inspection in July discovered heavily corroded reinforcement, structural cracks, damaged staircases, settlement, poor drainage and widespread vandalism of sanitary facilities.
The assessment was commissioned by a joint site meeting on July 16 involving officials from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Buildings Department, Blantyre City Council and the Kamuzu Stadium supervisory team.
The report says the stadium had only addressed three of the 12 issues earlier raised by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) when it closed the facility in April.
But the biggest concerns, according to the report, include the condition of some of the stadium’s structural components.
The inspectors found “spalling of concrete” on beams and columns, exposed reinforcement with evidence of heavy corrosion and deformed bars in stand C.
They also found that the stirrups in some columns were snapped.
The retaining wall behind stand C1 had visible cracks, exposed reinforcement and delamination of concrete, according to the report.
At stand D, inspectors observed cracks on the D2 staircase indicating failure.
The report says the probable cause was an ingrown tree found on the upper landing.
The same stand also had spalling of concrete on beams and columns, exposing reinforcement sand heavy corrosion and deformation of the steel bars”
Stand E was also flagged after inspectors found that the slab behind it was sloping inward toward the pitch, indicating a structural failure.
At stand F, the report found “exposed reinforcement, deformed bars, and corroded reinforcement” while a staircase on the far side of Stand F2 “exhibited noticeable vibrations during the site inspection”.
Consequently, the report makes a broad recommendation.
“The stadium needs an extensive structural assessment especially on the suspended stands and major cracks that have developed on the stands in fill,” the report reads in part.
The assessment also found extensive deterioration of toilet facilities and recommends replacement of 117 toilet doors, 12 storeroom doors, 12 interior burglar bars, seven main burglar bars, 60 taps, 92 squat pans and 120 cisterns.
It also calls for replacement of 16 ceiling boards while some roof sections require repairs or complete replacement.
At stand D2, the females toilet had an “extensively damaged ceiling”, while the roof was described as “completely damaged”.
The recommendation is to “replace it with new trusses and iron sheets”.
The males toilets were similarly found to have an “extensively damaged ceiling” and a “completely damaged” roof.
The assessment found that the toilets’ “flashing mechanism, urinal pipes and accessories, taps vandalised.
The stadium’s security lighting has also suffered vandalism and the report says the “pole-mounted lights are not working and obsolete while flood lights around the pitch are not working and cables supplying the flood lights were stolen.
It recommends replacing the obsolete lights with LED floodlights and replacing the perimeter cables with armoured cables.
The generator has also been out of service for a prolonged period and the report recommends that a new one should be purchased.
The report s also mentions poor drainage and uncontrolled vegetation
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture spokesperson Macmillan Mwale confirmed that the ministry received the report but said it was too early to comment on its contents.
He said the matter was still undergoing internal consultations and the ministry was awaiting further direction.
“The issue is being handled internally and waiting for further direction.
“We have not yet reverted with feedback as internal consultations have not yet been finalised,” said Mwale.
Meanwhile, a high profile meeting convened last week in Blantyre to discuss the report.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata and secretary for youth and sports Jameson Ndalama, Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi, Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Jim Kalua and Sports Council acting chief executive officer Ivy Chinangwa as well as FAM chief executive officer Abdulrahman Chiwalo and FAM executive committee member Daud Ntanthiko. attended the meeting
Mwale confirmed that the meeting took place, but said the deliberations were at the moment ‘private’.
FAM president Fleetwood Haiya was not available for comment.
However, in an earlier interview after the July inspection, FAM club licensing and competitions manager Clement Kafwafwa said they were waiting for the assessment report and further instructions from government.
