Ministry of Sports and stakeholders in the sector are eagerly waiting to know how much has been allocated to the ministry amid upward adjustments reports.
This comes after the Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola presented his first national budget in Parliament on Friday.
Chithyola’s budget is at K5.98 trillion, with a deficit of K1.43 trillion.
Initially, Sports Ministry was expected to receive K4.7 billion but sources indicate that the amount has been revised upwards to around K7 billion.
Ministry of Sports spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said they are waiting for Ministry of Finance to furnish them with details.
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“I can ably confirm the amounts on Monday but as of yesterday [Friday] we had not received official communication from Ministry of Finance,” Mwale said.
However, the sports fraternity can breathe a sigh of relief as Chithyola’s budget has accommodated everything which President Lazarus Chakwera delivered in his State-of-the-Nation- Address address.
“Government is committed to continue providing policy direction and guidance on matters pertaining to the development and empowerment of Malawian youths and the management of all sporting activities,” he said.
Chithyola said in the 2024/2025 Financial Year, resources allocated to this sector will cater for the construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre, completion of the Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports Complex and National Aquatic Complex.
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The budget also caters for the completion of the Zingwangwa and Soche stadiums and rehabilitation of Bingu National and Kamuzu stadiums.
Meanwhile, sports analyst George Kaudza Masina said revising the budget upwards is essential.
“This is what the sports fraternity were anticipating and we are grateful for the consideration. In the first place, a lot has happened in the financial sector since the last budget which has led to high rising costs and new programs coming in, it was just necessary to adjust the budget upwards.
“Suffice to say that any adjustment will never be enough but government has done its part and has to be applauded and it is now time for the corporate world to reciprocate,” Masina said.
