Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) has come under scrutiny following the discovery of an abandoned house in Mpingwe, Blantyre.
Differing reports have since emerged with some indicating that the house has been neglected for decades while Sports Council insisted that the last tenant vacated from the house on April 14, 2024.
The seven-room house, which is in dilapidated condition and situated along the Limbe-Zomba road, opposite Limbe Cathedral, exposes negligence.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama questioned the efficiency of the previous board and management that left the house in poor state.
“It is very disturbing to learn that the house has been neglected. Yet that house could have been rented for commercial purposes to generate income or to council’s affiliates. This is a clear sign of negligence because you cannot fail to renovate such a big house which is in a prime area,” Chinyama said.
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The house was discovered when the board, which is three-month-old, went through an asset verification exercise following a meeting with management.
During the verification exercise, two MNCS board members Escort Chinula and Alexander Chikonga were involved.
Chinula said the house was a big investment for revenue generation.
“We will renovate the house. It is the roof that has been damaged greatly, but we believe it will require a lot of money to bring it back to good state; but what we do not know is why it was abandoned,” Chinula said.
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Acting chief executive officer for MNCS, Ivy Chinangwa said she does not have full information on the house as she was recently appointed to the current post.
“I have not been here for long and I am coming from a recreation department which does not deal with infrastructure so, I would not say much. But the previous board should be in a better position to explain more on the matter,” she said.
Former MNCS vice board chairperson Ulaya Banda confirmed that the house had been abandoned for the past three years.
“This building is in Mpingwe residence and belongs to the council. The last time I checked it was being rented to a member of Parliament who was a chairperson of the health committee. I have just forgotten his name. He was renting them as offices for his company. He even wrote to the council to buy the buildings and the board refused to sell them because management told us that they had plans to turn the building into hostels for commercial purposes.
“But Treasury said the building was so dilapidated and value had depreciated to zero [no value] so, I was equally surprised that someone had just discovered the building as David Livingston did. They are already assets for MNCS,” Ulaya said.
