Zomba City Parliamentarian Pushes For Stadium Opening

BY: DRAXON MALOYA

Zomba City parliamentarian, Bester Awali on Tuesday asked the government in Parliament to immediately finish construction works on the stadium which has been too slow or halted at some poiunt.

Taking the podium and referring to order paper number 599 Honourable Awali said people of Zomba City constituency mainly football enthusiasts are deprived of their right to play and watch matches at their facility due to unnecessary delays to finish the construction works.

“Mr First Deputy Speaker Sir! I stand in reference to the order paper number 599 seeking to know the exact time when construction works will be completed in my constituency at the Zomba stadium.

“People of Zomba City wish to know the exact time when their facility will be opened, they want to play and watch their Super League side, Red Lions playing in the city and not elsewhere like the way it is at the moment,” Awali said.

Responding to Awali’s question, the minister responsible, Professor Blessings Chindinga assured the parliamentarian that works on the facility will be completed this year citing quality being maintained as the reason for the delay.

“It is the wish of my ministry to complete the construction of the Zomba stadium before the end of this year, the quality should be of international standards which will also help in uplifting the face of the city,” said the minister.

The minister further assured the parliamentarian that the contractor working on site has been advised to ensure all works on the facility should be completed before the end of the year which is almost four months down the line.

Recently, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) rejected Zomba City Council’s move to open up Zomba Stadium on July 31, this year saying a lot has to be done before the facility is certified for usage.

According to FAM’s Club lincesing Manager Casper Jangale, “the 20,000 seater stadium can not be opened because there is need for alot to be done for the association to approve the move.”

Jangale stated that the pitch was then not meeting the Federation of International Football Association standards and the spectators stands were not completed for the facility to host a football match.