Sports ministry Courts FISD LTD
Bingu National Stadium (BNS) will have a solar-powered water supply system funded by Fisd Group Limited Company.
Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Msungama and Fisd marketing and communications manager Wezzie Chiumia confirmed the agreement between the two parties after a cocktail at Sunbird Capital on Friday in Lilongwe.
The ministry engaged the private sector to brainstorm on how they can help youth and sports development in the country.
The minister said the deal was made after touring BNS where the ministry noticed a number of problems such as water supply for irrigating the pitch as well as for other stadium functions.
He said the solar-powered water supply system will also help to cut on costs for water utility bills, thereby, saving money for other needs at the stadium.
“We toured the stadium to appreciate its status and I must be honest that I was not pleased. The pitch is not fine and other facilities like toilets are not in use because of lack of water. Apart from that, government pays an average of K4 million per month in water bills, so all this will be history,” said Msungama.
Chiumia said the company will survey the stadium to determine the cost of the project and see how the water supply system can be installed.
“It’s true the minister and officials from the ministry came to our offices and presented the suggestion to have a solar-powered water supply at the stadium and because we are already taking a role in sports development in the country, we responded positively,” he said.
Chiumia said the company will drill solar powered-boreholes whose water will be stored in tanks.
Football analyst George Chiusiwa has since commended the deal, saying the government should start being innovative to improve sports in the country.
“This is a good development because what it means is that the money that was used to settle water bills will now be directed to other relevant matters. We have been saying that football development in the country needs a holistic approach,” he said.
However, Chiusiwa said the deal should not be another mouth-watering project that never sees implementation.
During the meeting, the ministry and various companies shared tips and plans to develop youth and sports in a number of areas, including employment, vocational skills and participation in government matters.
Msungama also said as part of reforms, the ministry plans to develop minority sports disciplines such as swimming, volleyball and boxing.
The development comes at a time BNS has been earmarked as venue for international football matches in the country following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) new regulations for international competition venues.
Among the rules, CAF outlined that football stadiums should have reliable water systems, detached seats and up-to-standard sanitation facilities such as clean toilets.
