Newly appointed Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Patricia Wiskies Wednesday visited Griffin Saenda Sports Complex to assess its condition ahead of hosting the Africa Netball Cup next month.
The facility is scheduled to host the event from December 8 to 14. During her visit, Wiskies was accompanied by Principal Secretary James Ndalama, officials from the Malawi National Council of Sports and the Netball Association of Malawi, among others.
After the inspection, ministry spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said the facility would be ready to host the high-profile netball tournament.
“During the visit, it was observed that the sports facility can still host the event but there is a need to start some critical works,” Mwale said.
He added that the works include the installation of glass and doors, permanent water and electricity connections, and cleaning and clearing the surrounding area.
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“There is a need to come up with a work plan to guide the works and monitor progress, considering the limited time before African netball inspectors visit the complex and before the commencement of the games,” he said.
Mwale said that while works are in progress, the ministry will continue to lobby for funds to complete the project, which stalled in 2022.
Her visit came a day after The Daily Times published a story highlighting the poor condition of the facility, raising concerns about Malawi’s preparedness to host the Africa Netball Cup.
