The Ministry of Youth and Sports has bemoaned rising cases of theft and vandalism at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe.
Ministry officials made the lamentation after engaging Parliament’s Social Welfare Committee members in Lilongwe on Friday.
The ministry’s spokesperson MacMillan Mwale said they told the committee members that low funding is also affecting operations of the facility.
“We met members of Parliament’s Social Welfare Committee and told them about the challenges we are facing at the stadium. The facility needs a lot of resources to be in good shape,” Mwale said.
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He then appealed to members of the general public to help protect the stadium from thieves and vandals.
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Government has allocated K100 million to BNS for operations in the 2024-25 financial year.
Committee chairperson Savel Kafwafwa said the meeting was aimed at appreciating challenges that the facility is facing.
“We have noted the concerns and will lobby for more funds in Parliament to ease some of the challenges the facility is facing. We value the stadium a lot as it is the only approved venue for international matches in the country. We will, therefore, play our part in ensuring that it gets the much needed attention,” Kafwafwa said.
Last season, 239 seats were damaged during ferocious incidents that happened during an Airtel Top 8 match between Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers.
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Seventy more seats were also damaged during the Castel Challenge Cup final match between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver.
BNS is expected to host three international matches next month.
The Flames will host Sao Tome and Principe at the stadium on June 6 in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Kenya has also chosen the facility as its home ground for matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast in the same competition.
