Govt, contractor seal ZA Stadium contract

Government on Saturday lived to its promise of building a 20 000-seater stadium in Zomba when it signed a contract with DEC Construction Company at a ceremony held at Zomba Community Centre ground.

There was a wave of excitement among Zomba residents who came to witness the ceremony.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Kiswell Dakamau, signed the contract for the first phase of the K2 billion project on behalf of the government which is expected to run from June to December this year.

Zomba City Council (ZCC) chief executive Dyson Jangia and managing director for DEC Construction Company, Dan Chale, were also part of the signatories to the contract.

Speaking after signing the contract, Dakamau said the stadium has been designed to match the status of Zomba City.

“It is a development most residents in Zomba have been looking forward to for a long time. Let me assure you that it will be a modern facility. I have been assured by the contractor that they will do a commendable job. We expect the first phase to be completed in six months [June-December] before funding the second one,” he said.

In his remarks, Chale told the gathering that his company will work with all the stakeholders to ensure a smooth project.

“But let me point out that sometimes the delay in funding gives us deadline challenges. I appeal to the responsible authorities to release the funds on time and I can assure you that we will beat the first phase deadline,” he said.

ZCC sports committee chairperson Gracious Madzi-Odikha expressed gratitude to government for approving the project. n