The Aquatic Sports Complex and Griffin Saenda Sports Complex are slowly developing into an eyesore two years after hosting Region 5 Youth Games, Times Sport has learnt.
Although the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has nodded to the continuation of the projects, a visit to the two facilities this week indicated that they are in poor state.
Situated at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Area 17, Lilongwe, the Aquatic Sports Complex is like a deserted area, with some bushes growing at the edges of swimming pools.
PPDA gave the Ministry of Youth and Sports the nod to continue with the projects last month after the Auditor General completed its task.
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However, spokesperson for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Macmillan Mwale, said there are procedures that are being followed before works resume on the facilities.
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“The consultant is working on how much work is remaining and bill of quantity. After the process, we will know the exact amount required for the projects. So, we will write the Treasury [on the issue of] funds for the completion of the projects,” Mwale said.
Mwale said it was difficult to give a timeline on when the projects would be completed.
“We do not know when the process will be finalised,” Mwale said.
The two facilities hosted some games during the Region 5 Youth Games in December 2022.
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However, the projects stalled after their scope of work changed.
For Saenda, the scope changed to accommodate more sports codes including volleyball, basketball, tennis and handball.
It was initially constructed for netball.
This resulted in the rise of the cost of construction for each project from K7 billion to K15 billion.
This means would-be-patrons to the sports fraternity would wait a bit longer to start using them.
Meanwhile, Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) General Secretary Peter Gomani has said the delay to complete the Saenda project has impacted the sport negatively.
“We had plans to host the Basketball African League but failed because we do not have a modern facility. It is our hope that the facility would be completed soon,” Gomani said.
On her part, Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) General Secretary Yamikani Kauma said the country had lost opportunities to host international competitions.
“We cannot host international competitions due to lack of proper facilities but we have been assured that the facility is almost 80 percent done,” Kauma said.
The Aquatic Sports Complex also needs an extra K7 billion to be completed.
Once completed, the facility is expected to have two swimming pools, gym and turnstiles entrance, among other features.
