Ministry of Youth and Sports has asked for an extra K7 billion to complete construction of Griffin Saenda Sports Complex which is adjacent to Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
At the start of construction in 2020, the total budget for construction of the facility was pegged at K7 billion but due to the rise in cost and modification in design, the ministry needs another K7 billion to complete it.
The facility, which hosted some games during the 2022 African Union Region 5 Games last year, was earmarked to be fully completed by June this year.
However, works have stalled since April as the ministry is waiting for extra funds from the Ministry of Finance.
Mkandawire
Sports Minister Uchizi Mkandawire said the extra funds will cater for technical changes in the facility’s design.
“We indeed require an additional K7 billion to complete this project and there are some items which have necessitated an increase in the project cost.
“This is to do with some technical changes in the design of the facility. A number of things were added which means it require extra funds,’’ Mkandawire said.
However, he could not disclose the kind of modifications in the design of the project.
The delays in completion of the project means the sports fraternity will wait a little longer to start accessing it.
Once fully completed, the Indoor Sports Complex will have state-of-the-art courts for netball, basketball and volleyball.
In addition, tennis courts will be constructed at the facility as part of the project.
Works have also stalled at the Aquatic Sports Complex which also hosted the Region 5 Games.
However, construction could resume as funds for the project were allocated in the 2023 National Budget.
The total cost for the project is K8 billion.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama said it is high time the two projects were completed.
’’Government is a very complex machine. Asking for extra funding is one thing and actually getting the funding is another. But if the funding is released in time, it will be good for the country’s sports fraternity as there will be a venue for indoor games,’’ Chinyama said.
