Ministry seeks More funding
The Social and Community Affairs Committee of Parliament has advised the Ministry of Youth and Sports to either ask for additional funding from Treasury to complete its projects or shelve some.
The advice was given when the ministry’s officials, led by Principal Secretary Isaac Katopola, appeared before the committee on Thursday
during a budget cluster meeting at Parliament Building in Lilongwe to lobby for more funding.
In an interview on Saturday, committee chairperson Savel Kafwafwa said in its presentation, the ministry said it was struggling to complete almost all its projects due to inadequate funding.
Among others, the ministry requested about K15. 732 billion for the completion of Bingu National Stadium (BNS), but has been allocated K7.962 billion, leaving a gap of about K6.462 billion; K9.636 billion was requested for Soche Stadium in Blantyre, but K7.470 billion has been allocated, leaving a deficit of K900 million.
On the other hand, K14.879 billion was requested for Zingwangwa Stadium in Blantyre and K900 million was allocated, as for the Aquatic Centre at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe, K5.971 billion was requested and K900 million has been allocated; Out of K6.703 billion that was requested for Mzuzu Youth Centre, K1.5 billion has been allocated.
On operations, Kamuzu Stadium has been allocated K35 million of the proposed K50 million; sports development is expected to get K215 million out of the propose K928 million, BNS has been allocated K100 million out of the proposed K115 million, K90 million has been earmarked for Griffin Saenda Sports Complex out of the proposed K210 million.
Said Kafwafwa: “I can confirm that we indeed met officials from the ministry, who want us to lobby for more funding because the allocations in the proposed 2024/25 National Budget are not enough.
“So, we have recommended two options. We want the Ministry of Finance to shelve some of the projects and spread the funding to at least two or three projects that can be completed.”
“The second option which we shared with the ministry was that we know that government has a deficit of K1.1 trillion, but then it would be better to get loans to complete the projects once and for all.”
He said the projects are for the youth who are in majority in the country.
Said Kafwafwa: “Secondly, when the projects are idle, contractors stay longer and this leads to escalation of the costs because they still charge.”
He said arrears for contractors have doubled due to inflation and devaluation of the kwacha, among others.
Said Kafwafwa: “So, looking at the two options, getting a debt to complete the projects is viable.”
The ministry’s spokesperson MacMillan Mwale confirmed the meeting in an interview yesterday.
He said: “The proposals are welcome as long as they will help finalise the projects we have and also for the interest of Malawians to start using the facilities.
“We will proceed with necessary consultations
