Malawi Govt plans for new stadium in Blantyre

Malawi Government has unveiled plans to construct a new stadium in the commercial city, Blantyre.

Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana on Monday said this comes in the wake of reports that Kamuzu Stadium is collapsing.

Chihana claimed that discussions with the Chinese Government on the possibility of funding the project are underway.

“We will build a new stadium in Blantyre and discussions are currently underway and once we are through, we will issue a statement,” he said.

But the minister said the discussions with their Chinese counterparts are at an early stage.

He also claimed that Kamuzu Stadium renovations will start soon and the facility should be ready for use later this year.

“We are planning to visit the facility with structural engineers for costing and once that is done, renovations will start so that come November, December, the stadium should be ready for use,” he said.

But he dismissed reports that the Chinese Government has abandoned the state-of-the-art stadium project in Lilongwe.

In June, Chihana said the project would start in August, but there has been nothing tangible prompting comments on social media that the Chinese Government had abandoned the modern stadium project that has been earmarked for Area 49.

“That is not true. In fact, the contractor was in my office a few days ago to brief me on progress. We are just working on a few logistics,” he said.

President Joyce Banda laid a foundation stone at the sight of the new stadium in July.