Plans by the Dedza District Council to let out the Dedza golf course and stadium are at an advanced stage, and according to chief executive officer Sphiwe Mauwa the move will help in revenue generation.
Mauwa told Business News on Thursday they decided to let out the two facilities because they could not run them properly due to lack of funds.
“There will be need to construct some infrastructure at the golf course and millions of kwachas will be needed. As a council, we do not have such amounts of money, hence, the decision to let the course and the stadium out,” she said.
Mauwa said most of the paperwork regarding the contract with the prospective operator of the golf course has been done and only a few technical aspects remain.
“This golf course is a national heritage because it is one of the oldest golf courses in the country. When it has been refurbished, it will bring to three the number of usable golf courses in the Central Region and, Dedza being close to Lilongwe, we hope to generate a lot of revenue because more golf players based in Lilongwe would want to come here,” she said.
Mauwa estimated that the council might be raising over K 1 million per year once the club is operational.
On the stadium, she said they are about to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence so that Kamuzu Barracks Football Club should be using it as their home ground.
“We are excited at this development because high- profile matches will be played in this town and, being a border town, people from Mozambique will also be coming to watch the games, hence improving our tourism,” said Mauwa.
She said the ground might be bringing in over K100 000 per month and the revenue will be used to improve some services in the town.
The Ministry of Defence will also be responsible for maintaining the stadium and the council will also be saving in that aspect.
