Government has installed pre-paid meters for its water system at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The development comes in the wake of the facility’s water being disconnected due to a bill of about K40 million that accumulated over one year.
The disconnection saw Mighty Wanderers hosting Blue Eagles in a TNM Super League match under dry tap conditions, sparking health concerns at one of the country’s oldest stadia.
Ministry of Sports spokesperson MacMilan Mwale said they had also replaced toilet cisterns which had been stolen.
“We are, therefore, calling on the general public to stop stealing water and toilet facilities at Kamuzu Stadium. Every time this happens, we are forced to incur unnecessary costs on repairs. The resources that are channeled into such repairs can easily be saved if this kind of theft stops. So, we are saying that the theft must stop so that the stadium remains in good condition,” Mwale said.
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The development comes barely two weeks after Times Sport carried two separate stories on water disconnection and lack of toilet cisterns and seats at the stadium.
The absence of the items forced spectators to use other means of relieving themselves each time they turned up for a match at the stadium.
The lack of functional toilets at the facility’s open stands was conspicuous during the Airtel Top 8 launch match between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets FC and Creck Sporting Club as spectators were seen using unconventional means to answer the call of nature.
This compelled Blantyre City Council to issue a health warning to the stadium, asking management to fix the anomaly immediately.
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A Manja Township-based soccer fan who frequents the stadium for various matches, John Mtekama, hailed the government for its response.
“Such efforts must continue. The government should make every effort to restore damaged and vandalised water and toilet facilities at the stadium. When we come to watch games, we expect to find a healthy environment from where we can enjoy ourselves. Every item at the stadium should always be in good working order.
“To those of us who go to watch matches at the stadium every week, the condition of the toilets left us wondering whether the stadium’s management really cares about the people who use the facility. So, for what has happened now, we commend the government for a job well done,” Mtekama said.
The stadium’s management has also embarked on a general cleaning exercise around the facility, with slashing of tall grass currently underway.
