National Sports

Kamuzu Stadium demolition talks resurface

 

President Peter Mutharika yesterday said Blantyre will have a modern stadium where the Kamuzu Stadium stands implying that the old stadium will be demolished.

Mutharika made the announcement when he officially opened the upgraded Masauko Chipembere Highway in Limbe, Blantyre.

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kamuzu_stadium_

Addressing the people at Yiannakis roundabout in Limbe to mark the official opening at Yianniks, Mutharika said construction of the new stadium is one of the projects the government has lined up for Blantyre City.

This is not the first time government has announced plans to demolish Kamuzu Stadium.

In 2014, Minister of Sports and Culture Grace Chiumia also announced plans to demolish Kamuzu Stadium.

That time she said consultation on the process had already started, however, a year later the plan has not been implemented.

Ministry of Sports spokesperson Christopher Mbukwa said this time the policy would be implemented following the President’s announcement.

“Those discussions have been there at the Sports Ministry on whether to renovate the Kamuzu Stadium and build another stadium in Blantyre or demolish the Kamuzu Stadium and build a new one on the same spot. But when the President makes such an announcement it calls for the Sports Ministry to implement the policy,” said Mbukwa.

Built over 60 years ago by colonists, the Kamuzu Stadium is the oldest stadium in the country.

Over the years, the stadium’s condition dilapidated and about three quarters of the stands were most recently condemned for being in poor condition.

Government structural engineers already condemned the stadium three years ago after serious cracks were discovered in most of the stands, a development that led to the closure of the facility by former Sports Minister Enoch Chihana.

The stadium was reopened after some concerned supporters petitioned Chihana on lack of football venues in Blantyre.

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