Nomads to pursue title deeds issue
Be Forward Wanderers say they will pursue the issue of title deeds to claim ownership of the stadium which government intends to build for the club.
In an interview yesterday, Nomads chairperson Symon Sikwese said: “That’s an issue that we have raised before with government authorities that if we are to be owners of the stadium, then we need to have title deeds.
“We also need to be mindful of the locations of the land where the stadiums are going to be built. Are we not going to have a situation whereby some people will be claiming ownership of the same plots? With the change of government, a lot of things are bound to happen. So, we can only be confident if we get title deeds.”
Nevertheless, he said they are optimistic that the new government will help them towards the cause.
On his part, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said their position on the matter as clarified by the board of directors, was that being a private entity, “the land would initially belong to government under Malawi National Council of Sports”.
However, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Principal Secretary Chancy Simwaka last week said there are outstanding issues relating to the plots and title deeds.
“But what I can say is that at the moment, it is government land. The stadia are being constructed by government, so we do not know at what point they will be given to the teams. The legal process is still underway,” he said.
Three days before the fresh presidential election, Vice-President Saulos Chilima also urged the two teams to claim title deeds from government to prove ownership.
The Veep made the advice during a rally at Nyambadwe ground in Blantyre, where he said Tonse Alliance—whose torch bearer Lazarus Chakwera emerged winner— would complete the projects if the two teams obtained title deeds from government.
The Nomads were allocated a piece of land at Kanjedza Forest near Soche Technical College while the People’s Team at Zingwangwa Secondary School ground near Moneymen Club along Chikwawa Road.
About two week ago, Mutharika presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the projects estimated to cost K7.5 billion.
During the 2019 Tripartite Elections campaign period, Mutharika pledged to construct the stadia. The projects, being carried out by Chinese Construction companies, are expected to take two years.