By Praise Majawa:
The state of sports infrastructure in Malawi has come under renewed scrutiny after the Parliamentary Social and Welfare Committee raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of facilities that are managed by the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS).
On Sunday, committee members visited MNCS offices in Blantyre to assess the council’s operations, understand the challenges affecting its work and examine the capacity of sports facilities under its management.
The legislators also toured Blantyre Sports Arena, BAT Ground and Hockey Stadium, where they assessed the condition, availability and suitability of the facilities for athletes and sports associations.
Speaking after the tour, committee vice chairperson Maureen Namwali said the visit had given legislators a first-hand appreciation of the challenges facing the country’s sports infrastructure.
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“We needed to appreciate the condition of the sports facilities and see for ourselves where our athletes are conducting their sporting activities. We have seen that the facilities need to be renovated because they are not in good condition,” Namwali said.
She said the committee would take the concerns raised during the engagement to Parliament and explore possible ways of supporting MNCS in rehabilitating the facilities.
The condition of sports infrastructure remains a critical issue for the development of athletes and the hosting of national and international competitions, with sports associations often relying on a limited number of facilities for training and competitions.
MNCS Board chairperson Jim Kalua welcomed the engagement.
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“It is necessary and a periodic function to have these meetings. Remember, we use government resources and Parliament is always interested in making sure that resources are put to proper use. We really appreciate the visit,” Kalua said.
