Malawi Govt rebuffs fans on Kamuzu Stadium

Malawi Government has said it will not bow down to pressure to reopen Kamuzu Stadium before it undergoes renovation.

Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Chihana made the remarks in reaction to a petition by supporters of the six Blantyre-based Super League teams, who want the stadium reopened in seven days, because it is a burden to travel outside Blantyre to watch their teams.

The fans joined their teams’ officials in pleading with government to only close the condemned two stands at the stadium and let the facility be used.

But Chihana said their priority is the safety of people and will not compromise anything because of pressure from the teams.

“Nothing will change. The stadium will remain closed until we have done the renovations. People are not looking at their safety. We should look at the bigger picture, which is the future and safety of our beloved fans. Renovations will start soon and may not be complete until after six months,” Chihana told MBC Radio 2 FM.

The supporters met on Tuesday at Kamuzu Upper Stadium, where they threatened to organise a march to the DC or President Joyce Banda’s Sanjika Palace if their concerns are not addressed in a week.

“We are writing government, FAM, Sulom and Sports Council that they should find a solution as soon as possible. It is costly for us to go and watch games in Balaka, Zomba and Kalulu.

“It is practical for them to just seal the condemned stands and let us use the four stands. Already when Bullets play Wanderers, some stands are closed to avoid crashing of supporters so we can use that measure as well,” said the group’s spokesperson, Mabvuto Chibambo.

Blantyre teams’ officials, led by Bullets FC and Wanderers, made the same plea last week, in support of an opinion of the Malawi Institute of Engineers (MIE).

MIE president Dr Matthews Mtumbuka said last month that all things being equal, cordoning off the condemned terraces, rather than completely closing the stadium, would have been an ideal precautionary measure.

“We really believe what MIE say can work and we must try it because it is becoming costly to run the teams with the little resources we have,” said Chinyama.