New BT stadium plans shelved

• Kamuzu Stadium demolition deferred indefinitely

Prospects of having the ailing Kamuzu Stadium demolished to pave the way for construction of a new facility anytime soon have gone up in smoke following government’s change of tune on the project.

Last September, Minister of Youth and Sports Grace Chiumia announced that Blantyre would have a new stadium before completion of the one under construction in Lilongwe.

However, responding to a question from Weekend Nation on Wednesday, on why the Blantyre stadium project is not starting, Chiumia said government had shelved the plan until the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe is completed.

“The Blantyre stadium project has been shelved for now because we felt it would be wise to complete the one in Lilongwe before embarking on the Blantyre one.

“It was observed that we could not have two major stadium projects running concurrently as that would have created complexity in that we would not have had a suitable venue to host international matches.

“The other reason, of course, is that we are still courting donors to fund the project,” she said.

Asked why government had not anticipated such a scenario, Chiumia said: “It was just an oversight because we thought the Blantyre stadium could be completed within a short period.”

The minister also said government does not have the actual time frame on when the Blantyre project will commence.

On whether government is serious about constructing a new stadium or renovating Kamuzu Stadium, Chiumia said: “First things, first. Let us get it over and done with the Lilongwe project and then we can shift focus to the Blantyre project.”

She also said the estimated cost of the Blantyre project is still at consultation phase.

“But [the] present government is serious about implementing its promise to construct a new stadium.

“The project could take time because of the negative impact Cashgate has made on our initial plans. But President Arthur Peter Mutharika does not make empty promises, and I want to assure Malawians that it will be implemented. All I would want to ask from Malawians is patience.”

She said a new stadium will be built before the end of Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) current term and that officials are working on the ground.

Last year, Chiumia said government would wait for the Flames to complete their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification assignment before embarking on the Kamuzu Stadium project.

In an earlier response on the Blantyre stadium pledge, Mutharika, through his press secretary Frederick Ndala, said he remains committed to fulfilling his campaign promises.

“The initial plan was to build a completely new stadium in Blantyre, but now that some information on the current state of Kamuzu Stadium has emerged, government may consider the option of demolishing the current stadium to put up a totally new structure in that place although this will depend on some technical opinions and recommendations,” reads part of the response.

But some Blantyre-based Super League teams feared that demolition of Kamuzu Stadium will worsen the problem of lack of proper playing venues in the city and suggested the need to renovate the old facility while planning construction of a new one.

“Demolishing an existing structure will not improve the situation because there is already lack of adequate venues in the Southern Region and Blantyre in particular,” said Be Forward Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao.

Government structural engineers condemned Kamuzu Stadium three years ago when serious cracks were discovered in most of the stands. The development led to the closure of the facility by former sports minister Enoch Chihana on grounds that it was a hazard to society.

But government was forced to re-open the stadium due to pressure from some concerned fans who argued that the closure of the stadium was denying them football entertainment and that it was costly for their respective clubs to play games outside Blantyre.

Since then government has made continued promises that the stadium would either be renovated or demolished, with the latest development that Blantyre will have to do with Kamuzu Stadium for now. n