Kamuzu Institute for Sports has emerged as the biggest winner in Ministry of Youth and Sports 2020/21 budget allocation after being allocated K1 billion for the rehabilitation of the facility.
The institute located in Kawale, Lilongwe is set to host 2022 African Union Region 5 Games.
According to budget documents which we have seen, Ministry of Youth and Sports has been allocated about K7 billion in vote 180 of the K2.2 trillion 2020/21 National Budget tabled in Parliament on Friday.
Department of sports projects have been allocated K2.6 billion, with KIS getting the lion’s share of K1 billion.
The yet to start construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre has once again been allocated K780 million while indoor netball court will project will get K300 million.
But Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers stadia projects , launched by former president Peter Mutharika during election campaign, have not been allocated any funds.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Williams Banda said they allocate funds based on ministries’ plans.
“The ministries decide which projects they want to prioritise. We only follow what they have asked for,” he said.
Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Msungama earlier said the Tonse Alliance administration could not prioritise construction of Bullets ad Wanderers stadiums because they were not on their agenda.
He, however, said government has not abandoned the projects and will still construct the stadia for the two clubs.
Malawi National Council of Sports acting executive secretary Henry Mereka said they proposed the rehabilitation of Kamuzu Institute to turn the facility into a sports village as the country is preparing to host the Region 5 Games.
“Of course, we have been motivated by the hosting of the Region 5 Games. We would like to see the venue having modern facilities. But the plan goes beyond the Region 5 Games,” he said.
Apart from rehabilitation of basketball, volleyball, netball courts, running tracks and football pitch, the facility will also have a gymnasium and swimming pool.
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