The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is struggling with over K5 billion debt, dating to 2022.
Sports Minister Patricia Wiskes made the remarks in a ministerial statement delivered to Parliament in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
She said the ministry was yet to clear the debt, three years after hosting the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe.
“The sports sector continues to grapple with issues of inadequate funding for sports development, [issues] which are crippling the sector. As I speak, Mr Speaker, Sir, the ministry is yet to clear arrears that emanated from Region 5 Youth Games. These arrears amount to over K5 billion,” she said.
The ministry owes supplies of goods and services during the Region 5 Youth Games.
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In the past, some service providers dragged the ministry to court.
Last year, a report by the National Audit Office (Nao) indicated that claims amounting to K1.1 billion—which Region 5 Youth Games Lilongwe 2022 Limited submitted to the Ministry of Finance—lacked sufficient documents.
Then, Nao only approved K6.8 billion out of the K8 billion.
Nao instituted an investigation to verify reports of the arrears.
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Meanwhile, Wiskes has appealed for increased funding towards the construction of some of the sports projects such as Soche and Zingwangwa stadia.
She said lack of funding was also delaying the completion of some sports projects in the country.
“The funding problem is also delaying [the] completion of sports facilities, and this is creating pressure on the existing facilities,” she said.
“These funding delays are also leading to price escalations due to a volatile currency as well as deterioration of the facilities before they are commissioned for use,” she added.
Works stalled at Zingwangwa and Soche stadia due to lack of funds.
