Malawi to embark on sports infrastructure project

Malawi government has said it will from this year start implementing a five-year strategic plan to take sports to the grass roots by building required infrastructure.

According to Malawi’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Enoch Chihana, the plan will be included in the 2013/14 National Budget which was presented for debate in Parliament by Minister Ken Lipenga on Friday.

Chihana disclosed this in an exclusive with Weekend Nation soon after arriving from a study tour in Zimbabwe.

He said despite government operating on austerity measures, his ministry will still include sports infrastructure development allocations.

“The knowledge [from the Zimbabwe tour] is vital as we seek to implement the infrastructure project in the country. Our friends are ahead of us in everything related to sports. They have infrastructure in all the townships where the community is involved in the running of the game,” he said.

Chihana said the sports infrastructure will make it easier for communities to pursue their desired sport and in the process the country will nurture talent for international competitions such as Olympic and Commonwealth games.

“By constructing sports facilities in townships, we will be able to leave national stadiums for national events only. The situation in Zimbabwe is that the national stadium is left for national functions only and not for domestic leagues,” he said.

Chihana, who admitted that the programme will require billions of kwacha, said government will work with the private sector to realise the ambitious project.

He said first on the agenda is the rehabilitation of Kamuzu and Civo stadiums.