Ageing Kamuzu Stadium demolition decision reached: Sport Minister says it is death trap

It used to be the centre of activities for the nation since 1964 from the days of  founding president Kamuzu Banda up until 28 January, 2017, the country’s soccer mecca, the Kamuzu stadium can no longer host a high profile activity or match because of the condition it is in.

This according to government is a worry such that the decision to demolish the facility has already been reached, Minister of Labor, Youth, Sports and manpower development Henry Mussa confirmed the development to Nyasa Times.

Mussa said government has already set aside mechanisms on how the process of demolishing the facility will be done.

“Kamuzu stadium is a death trap. As government, we cannot sit back and accept those who want to use the facility for activities because it’s a huge risk.

“The plan is already there to construct a new stadium at the site once  the current structure has been demolished. Let me assure Malawians that plans to demolish the facility are already there,” said Mussa.

Asked on possibilities for the facility to be used during the 2017 football season, Mussa said all stakeholders have been consulted regarding the condition of the facility and hope the decision will be adhered to.

Mussa said the construction of the new stadium is one of the projects the government has lined up for Blantyre City.

This is not the first time government has announced plans to demolish Kamuzu Stadium.

In 2014, Minister of Sports and Culture Grace Chiumia also announced plans to demolish Kamuzu Stadium.

That time she said consultation on the process had already started, however, a year later the plan has not been implemented.

Built over 60 years ago by colonists, the Kamuzu Stadium is the oldest stadium in the country.

Over the years, the stadium’s condition dilapidated and about three quarters of the stands were most recently condemned for being in poor condition.

Government structural engineers already condemned the stadium four years ago after serious cracks were discovered in most of the stands, a development that led to the closure of the facility by former Sports Minister Enoch Chihana.

The stadium was reopened after some concerned supporters petitioned Chihana on lack of football venues in Blantyre.