Bingu deserves mark on Chinese-funded stadium as ‘a matter of common sense’

January 31, 2015 Lyson Goodwin Sibande 150 Comments

Sometime last year, I made new friends and colleagues in some distant part of the world. Many people that surrounded me, and those I came into contact with, did not know what Malawi is, or where it is located on the globe. Most of them heard the word Malawi for the first time from me.

Bingu wa Mutharika
Bingu wa Mutharika
Malawi's Chinese-funded stadium under construction in Lilongwe
Malawi’s Chinese-funded stadium under construction in Lilongwe

One day my friends asked me to show them some pictures of Malawi. They wanted to know what Malawi looks like. I told them I would show them some pictures the following day. At my residence, I thought of downloading some great pictures that would impress my friends that I had a country that really belonged to this planet, and save myself from shame. I was only able to get pictures of three buildings and only two from the Capital. The pictures were the Malawi University of Science and Technology, the Parliament, and the five-star Hotel.  There were a number of pictures showing these buildings from different views, which I had sourced from the Internet.

I showed the pictures to my friends and they were impressed that Malawi was a progressive nation, and I felt so proud of my home. They asked me to show them more pictures, but I told them that I could not show them more because I had problems with downloading. You and I know that my problem was not downloading, but there were no more pictures to show.

If you think about the pictures I showed my friends, you will notice that they are all pictures which speak about the works of the hands of Bingu wa Mutharika. Why am I sharing this now? The Chinese funded state-of-the-art stadium which is under construction in Lilongwe has been named Bingu National Stadium, and some people have developed some headaches and stomach-aches over the naming.  The reason the naming is causing controversy only explains that the people of Malawi have chosen to always think with emotions and totally abandoned reasoning.

We have allowed our hatred towards Bingu, and our love for his opponents to dictate the terms and levels of our thinking on matters to do with anything that embodies him. In the process, we have ignored our responsibility towards the pursuit of our aspirations for a better Malawi with a great lifestyle and improved standards of living: a Malawi where youths have jobs, and are free to operate successful businesses; a Malawi where people have access to great sanitary facilities, and a reliable electricity supply; a Malawi where youths have access to relevant education at affordable costs, and live in an environment that enhances their innovation; a Malawi which allows effective political participation for the youths, through a transparent and accountable government that values the contribution of young people.

These and many more are our aspirations and dreams. But we cannot chase and realize these dreams if we sell our common sense to the vanity of cheap politics where our love for one politician and hatred for another, compromises our judgement to discern between important and useless arguments.

Common sense, will tell us that as ambitious youths, motivated by our desire to have a better Malawi with opportunities and room for prosperity, we have nothing, totally nothing to lose or benefit in the mere name of a stadium. Whatever government decides to call the stadium in Lilongwe, will not improve job and business opportunities for the youth. Whatever name is given to the stadium; water and electricity supply, and access to higher education, or availability of health and medical facilities will remain poor. Therefore, we need to find other topics of importance to argue on. We cannot spend time arguing on matters that do not resolve our immediate challenges, when we have so much at stake for the youths that need quick redress.

When Bakili Muluzi became president in 1994, he decided to erase the name of his predecessor, Kamuzu Banda, just because he was the dictator under whose regime many Malawians were exiled, persecuted and murdered. Muluzi, also had personal vendetta to settle with Kamuzu. So he removed the name of Kamuzu on several buildings of national significance, like Kamuzu International Airport, and Kamuzu Stadium. But when Bingu became president in 2004, he reinstated the name of Kamuzu, despite the fact that Bingu himself had been exiled by Kumuzu’s dictatorship. Bingu believed that despite Kumuzu’s short falls, his name deserved a place in our history, because of the great things he had achieved

Without regards to love or hatred over Bingu, I think there is no human dead or alive whose name deserves a mark on that stadium more than Bingu.  We can choose to change, to satisfy our emotions, or we can maintain his name, but one thing that remains true and very important, is that Bingu changed the face of Malawi, and gave us all a sense of pride through a number of magnificent infrastructure developments only in eight years, and left some in progress. He failed politically and economically especially at the start of his second term, but we cannot hate him forever, and deny his name the greatness it deserves just because of the failures. What matters is what he managed to give us when he could, even as he was subjected to human weakness; arrogance, tribalism, and dictatorial tendencies.

By November, I will show my friends one more picture from Malawi, the picture of Bingu National Stadium. I will tell them that, somehow, downloading worked and stopped again.

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150 replies on “Bingu deserves mark on Chinese-funded stadium as ‘a matter of common sense’”

  2. To those who hate the naming of the stadium Bingu,convince us which name do you think its proper,ok Joyce Banda national stadium,koma JB anapanga chiyani?mmadana ndi Bingu chifukwa ninji,he is the only president who changed the face of malawi after Kamuzu,ife ndiye tasangallala kwambiritu,nde mupite ku Thyolo mukaone MUST,i dont want to say much,may his soul rest in peace,musamatilankhulitse pambali ayi,amene zamunyasa akagwere uko.

  3. That stadium the Chinese are building all the five star u talking about ain’t for free….your aunties ur uncles ur children wud be paying for that thru tax…..and how many pipo pays tax in Malawi.?just cuz bingu initiated the project don’t mean he deserved his name on it…..and for opposition you too are just apiece of work….there are loads of pressing matters at hand which needs ur scrutiny n u busy bashing bingus name on a stadium…bunch of idiots….no wonder Raphael tenthani is being seen as effective in seeing government flaws that the leader of opposition….send that crown back to the pulpit

  4. Please just name every thing that Kamuzu, Bakili, Bingu, Joyce and currently Peter what they have done to Malawians in their names full stop.

  5. For heavens sake, this is a loan which every Malawian is paying. Give it a name that will make every Malawian proud. I am tired of people praising presidents for what they are employed to do. The perks they get, the free food they eat, the free accommodation they get, all the benefits they get amounting to millions every month, shows that they people value their services. If Bingu wanted his name to last forever, he would have named his Ndata Mansion Bingu Castle or Bingu whatever and not the funny name he gave it. DPP gurus, rename Ndata in honor of Bingu and nobody will raise an eye.

  6. I agree with Wadada Sibande. please MCP,PP leaders do not think that Malawians are still dull,or ignorant as before. Are you telling me that naming that stadium “Bingu”, is wrong?? Even if is wrong, what will it benefit the poor Malawians by naming it Bingu,or Chakwela? By the way, which name do you prefer? Pliz, and pliz, listen very well and listen very carefully. Concentrate on building your parties. If you want Malawians to like you, be sensible and be realistic. Change tactics now!! If you were in government by now, are you telling Malawians that this stadium will be Mpandadzina? No! a big no! Obviously a name will come from you. I beg you, with all due respect, “In this period of FLOODS, do not make noise on useless,baseless,value less topics to Malawians. Come out in the open to all Malawians, and proove to US, that you are better. Not with the same old style of envy,jealousy,hate,malice. Pliz Hon. Chakwela, advise your followers and everyone listening to you in this country that,”The Bible says,’You cannot remove a log in someone’s eyes, but first remove from yours and you can go and remove from your friend” I thank God that neither MCP or PP are in government now. You are worse than APM, seriously. Lord have mercy on poor Malawians.

  7. We have Bingu Intl Converence Centre already ,if that is the case name everything of his tenure after him and forget to name that heros acre in Mzuzu where those 20 inocent malawians Bingu heros Acre

  8. Bingu was a thug in a suit. He stole forex and blamed foreigners. Master of divide and conquer. We should name a toilet after him.

  9. Mayi amene anabeleka iwe, ndi mayi odala pobeleka mwana oziwa chomwe akunena…
    It’s high time we stop jealousy and start appreciating when someone has done a commendable job…
    Even if you kill yourself today, Bingu’s name shall live to be remembered because of the significant development he did while he was the president….

  10. In the first place, why did Sibande lie about the state of Malawi in the first place? If the guys discovered Malawi is no better place as he did, I bet his colleagues will laugh big about him being a psychotic liar. If we are ashamed of the state of our country there is no way we will work to improve things. Most people who are abused lie about the abuse in hope that things will change on their own…No! Nothing will change until we do something. Let the DPP government call the stadium whatever they may, only that in future they should learn to consult from the bonya-munching Malawians.

  11. Nsanje si umuna perekani dzina ku sitediumu yake munthu. BINGU STADIUM SO WHAT??? Achina Msonda makosi asololoke ndi Nsanje KKKKKKKKKKKKK!! Mmesa manyumba aja mutha kuwatchula JB? akukanizani ndani? izi zizipereka mphamvu kwa asogoleri kuti azichita zinthu zolozeka kuti adzasiye maina awo. Nanga kumagawa mbuzi basi? kugulitsa ndege?? Ngakhalenso MUST ikanakhalanso BINGU ndiye MCP ndi PP mpaka Nseru whooooaaaaH!?

  13. Palibetu nkhani apa. Kodi bambo kubeleka mwana ndi mkazi wake. ndiye ukwati nkutha mayi uja nkukwatiwa ndi mwamuna wina. Mwina wa mwana ndi bambo oyamba kapena omupeza uja? Sovani nokha.

    Step-father has no better claim to the child than the biological father. This means Bingu is the owner of the Stadium and it should be named after him. Period.

  14. I think it was God’s own plan for my Sibande to write this crap so that we could see for ourselves which group of people is really tribalistic than the rest. In my observation I have also noticed that in this article there is no such an animal of tribalism people do comment with issue based comments I guess its because the article is in fever of the most tribalistic people on earth and all the opposers are well eye opened people with a clean mindset which has brought sanity and sobriety in the comments there have been no attacks at the personality of the author not even the tribe of the most unreasoning former president dictator Bingu wa mthalika may his soul be tormented day and night as his decision torments us on daily basis with his quota system.

  16. Bingu was great. A revolutionary and a visionary! He promoted the downtrodden and thats why he is calles a nepotist! Chihana filled Min of Agric with atumbuka. He is not called a nepotist! He is called a hero and a homeboy. But when other people are given opportunities, thats nepotism. Bingu overturned things and ena akuopa. Simple. No tribe should be relegated to tea plucking!

  17. Why glorify a heartless dictator. God shamed him by giving him unceremonious exit from earth. Now you want to glorify this idiot?

  22. Politics of hate in Malawi has lead us to forgate our real hiroz and celebrate the boko haram john chilembwe. what about the services of chakufwa chihana, yes the development activities of Dr bingu wa mthalika. if this mania continues we shall celebrate amayi, ndithu.

  24. Chanzeru choyamba ine kuona pa nyasa times ndichimenechi’ indeed BINGU (may his soul rest in peace) changed the face of malawi.

  25. Ife Bingu sitimamufuna olo pang’ono ndipo Mulungu antiyankha pomutenga nsanga komanso mwadzidzidzi,ndie inu mukuchita makani inu poti m’bale wake ali pa udindo musamale china chake chikhoza kuchitika mwadzidzidzi ndikukudiyani pa dzuwa. Musamaelekedwe Malawi ndi watonse ndipo ngongole zimezi titazabweze ndi a Malawi tonse.

  26. Ena mmene amalimbikira kuti ikhale ku lilongwe amayesa kuti azikavinirapo nyau, kenako apereke dzina loti Chakwra kapena Chatsika Stadium. Ng’ooooooooooooooooo. Mwauponda. pangani zanu. Inu a PP mumafuna muipatse dzine loti Bakha Stadium?

  29. Bravo, bravo , bravo, bravo, bravo , bravo, bravo, bravo. You are not a Mtumbuka like late Rev. Father Zuza, ARE YOU….Mr Sibande????????

  31. No Sir Sibande. Joyce banda Sadium not Bingu. Bingu wanted it in Thyolo at Ndata. If it was there at Ndata yes. It is Lilongwe because of Joyce Banda. It will be named after her, JB Stadium. It is a matter of time and not debate.

  32. Asiyeni andale adzitchula maina mmene afunila. Amaononga ndalama zao kucita ma kampeni amenewa. Akakhala pa mpando ndi nthawi yoti adzipepese. Sanabe ndalama angopereka dzina. Akanadandaula ma China wo ndikanamvetsetsa. Limbikilani ndale nanu mudzidzatchula maina zinthu pa Malawi pano.

  33. Kulankhula mopepela..atalipile ngongoleyo ndi Bingu?titalipile ndi ife ndi acha anawathu…tamatsakulani maso abale anzanga

  34. Malawians never stop to baffle me. When you say Bingu or Kamuzu did tho and that, what criteria do you use or with what do you compare yourself? Why should we be praising leaders who abused us yet we were paying them. Remove your tribal spectacles and look beyond!!! The fact is that Malawi is one of the poorest countries on the earth. Most of giving stupid comments and doing praise singing have never crossed the borders to see Lusaka or Maputo. Our friends are really enjoying fruits of development. Koma Malawians tulo too much!!! Kugona kweni kweni.

  36. If we name lilongwe stadium ochewa amera zifu thinking odapanga ndi okamuzu dele …bingu stadium basi…muphilika nanga kutabwerere port

  37. Bingu himself rightly likened development to a reelly race and since independence all the leaders we have had witnessed projects during their tenure, though the levels differed. It is a sign of respect to have one project named after a leader but splushing names of a leader over all the projects surfacing in their tenure is like promoting a culture of PERSONISING PROJECTS which is not healthy. Malwians must resist this temptation at all cost. No politics must be involved either.

  38. Where on earth did u ever heard about a “name”buying food for a hunger? Let this name of our late president remembered.lt is because of this hatred that we’re falling backwards again and again.Some presidents when in power sacked many innocent people from their jobs.today we have president who does not want to take revenge.ehen are going to learn my fellow Malawians? Let Bingu stadium be.Dont hate this name because you were caught whilst stealing.Learn that lf you want to have peace with someone in power,then do good.Bingu through the wisdom God gave him,he change this nation.Look at the roads in Lilongwe.when our currency was still strong,those who were in those days did not want to change this nation,lnstead they pocket all the money and filled their stomach to be famous.whilst this late man,saw that he has a nation to be proud of.Look at Nsanje road,Zomba,City xentre.Dont be jelousy.He won’t rise back because we have named the stadium after his name.please,Love him though you did not while he was alive.

  39. Muluzi was President for 10 years and point any structure that he put in place: zero kkkkkkkk!!!!
    Bingu stayed in Power for 8 years but in every month, a structure was in progress being constructed and initiated by him. Joyce Banda stayed in power for 2 years and point any structure that she initiated and being constructed: zero kkkkkkkkk!!!!
    You see! This is how they differ. Bingu had a good vision of elevating this country to the highest global standard. Bingu International Stadium nchito za manja ake kumuchitira umboni zitalephera mphwepwa zina za ma president kuchita ngati izi.
    Long live the spirit of Bingu and let DPP continue with his ambitions!

  40. YES NAME THE NSANJE PORT ,”BINGU PORT”white elephant.NOT OUR STADIUM.WHEN WE COME TO POWER WE SHALL EMBARAS U.BY REVERSING THE NAME TO A NUTRAL ONE.

  41. Nanu Muli ndi ufulu kupekeka maina kwa mbuzi ndi abakha amene mumalandila palibe angakuleseni. Nkhani ili apa ndikupwleka ulemu pa zomwe munthu anachita. Ena this era anali busy kupembeza azungu Bingu was busy with infrastructure

  44. BINGU UNILATERALY BULDOZED THE NATION OF MALAWI INTO BUILDING THE “BINGU NSANJE PORT”PLS NAME THIS INLAND PORT AFTER BINGU ,NOT OUR STADIUM. TIME FOR BOOTLICKIN WERE BURIED WITH ONE PARTY RULE.

  45. Mtengo uliwonse umadziwika ndi zipatso zake, tiyeni a Malawi tilore ntchito za manja a Bingu ziwachitire umboni. Bingu National Stadium, ikuchitira umboni ntchito za manja a Bingu. Mzimu wawo uuse mumtendere.

  46. THE BONE OF CONTETION AT HAND IS THAT MALAWIANS WANT TO SET A WARNING PRECEDENCE TO FUTURE LEADERS NOT TO TAKE MALAWIAN PPLE FOR FOOLS.PPLE OF MALAWI JUST MANAGED TO RETRIEVE THE STADIUM FROM THE GREEDY JAWS OF THE DPP PARTY.SHOULD PPLE OF MALAWI NOW GIVE THE SAME BONE BACK TO THE GREEDY FOLKSBY NAMING THE STADIUM BINGU? IT IS THE PEOPLE OF MALAWI WHO R PAYING FOR THE COST,NOT DPP.WE R NO LONGER IN A DICTATORSHIP.WAKE UP MALAWIANS

  47. Oh foolish Malawians,who has bewitched u? U already have Bingu International Conference Centre,and now whats this? You even failed to give the true picture of Malawi. U wanted to show them that u are a wealthy nation,while u pretty well know that you are as poor as a church mouse. What a shame…

  48. As all presidents, Bingu deserve nothing, he was employed by Malawians and was paid for the job he was doing. Lilongwe National Stadium that is it. Bingu this, Bingu that. The guy is gone and Malawians have moved on.

  50. Ine ndekha Bingu ndie Ai,kumulemekeza chifukwa chiri anali pulezident Chani? Palinso anthu ambiri omwe anagwila ntchito kuti ngongole za Ku china zitheke ma MP,nduna komanso a Malawi tonse chifukwa tisaiwale zimenezi ndi ngongole. Maganizo enanso ankachokela Ku zipani zotsutsa monga fertilizer subsidy inachokela kwa a Tembo ndi MCP Bingu anangowakha magazowa mpakana zinaenda bwino. Komano Bingu anali woipa kwambiri,watsankho kwambiri,wonyenga ndipo nchifukwa chake anafela pamwamba pa nkazi akunva kukoma.

  51. some how this article has triggered debate and strange thing people aren’t doing the usual tribal names calling it tells me its written well and unique even tho on the content I may have my reservations but I just want to comment or commend ur writing style.

    1. There is no tribal battles because this issue involves tribalists who gang up against northerners. Now that it involves them they see logic in debating soberly

  52. Another stupid decision by a group of stupid people. these our leaders when are they going to stop being stupid.

  53. Sibande, despite all your efforts to put up a good arguable piece like this one, I tend to differ with one point you have made that Bingu was exiled by Kamuzu. This is not true – the truth of the matter is that when Bingu returned from his studies in India, he got a job in the Ministry of Finance in Zomba then the capital of Malawi. Government had arranged to send a delegation to the UK to negotiate funding with the British government and on the delegation the officials decided to include Bingu at the last minute on the argument that they needed an educated person to be part of the negotiating team. They looked for Bingu so they could inform him of the development, but he was absent on that day and John Tembo who was the Minister of Finance then sent messengers and a policeman to look for him at his at St.Mary’s lines. Unfortunately,Bingu was not at home and he was unmarried, fresh from college .The messengers and the policeman that went to look for him at his house left a word with his neighbours that when he returns he should report to the office immediately. Upon his return home later in the evening, the neghbours relayed the message as they were told. To Bingu this meant that he was being pursued by Kamuzu and would be arrested knowing how powerful John Tembo was that time. He immediately disappeared and went to Zambia where President Kaunda facilitated his employment with the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) in Ethiopia. From then on, Bingu never wanted to come back home for fear of unknown. This is the true picture of what happened to Bingu and he came to know about the whole drama when he had already made up his mind never to step his foot on Malawi soils again. It’s better to do some research before raising issues that have the potential to tarnish the image of others people.

  54. you mean you could not take a picture of Victoria avenue in Bt, the Capital hill, hotel Victoria ,Lake Malawi and show them ? nanunso mwangopepela

  60. So Malawi has nothing to show for attracting visitors according to Chapter one verse 1 to 4? Malawi has its own unique public vouchers in the name Chiphwisi Act proposal, madonna adaption,Aunt Tiwonge, dictatorship, begging bowls,now the unfortunate floods.the fact that you have written the nonsense shows the reaction from the public has struck the bull’s eye and you are trying to justfy the action miserably. Let us name everything from China after him then

  63. Unbelievable ! That we still have malawians to defend the stupid Bingu ! Surprisingly this man could be having some University Degrees ! Bewitched mind, no single project ,building ,hotel is named after Jacob Zuma in south Africa .

  65. Next, Vuwa Kaunda will demand this name: 8ingu’s Nkhata Bay District Hospital. Then Goodal Gondwe will outclass Vuwa like this: Bingu’s Mzuzu Reserve Bank

  68. hahahahaha….where were you searching for these pictures? Google wake yemwe ndukumudziwa ineyu has plenty plus one pictures of Malawi!! sorry but when you start an argument with a lie, there is no need to hear the rest! & its a pity coz naming the stadium Bingu…..aint really such a bad idea

  69. Zautsiru mesa paja stadium yake akamangira ku ndata iyi idabwera ndi jb popanda kufa tikadaiona ku LL imeneyi this one call it lingadzi or capital

  71. You say there was nothing left to show…
    What about;
    Nyika plateau- which his government nearly gave away to an Arab country for a very long lease- a deal which has since shown it had corruption involved.

    Lake Malawi- which his government wanted to ruin by drilling it for oil. Naturally these days, all proceeds would go to the pockets of the cabinet.

    Mount Mulanje- which his friends basically ‘stole’ and have since caused mass deforestation.

    Although he may have built a few things; his government destroyed so many!…
    It is a President’s duty to develop a nation, so we don’t have to go around naming everything after them as though they have done a beyond worldy deed. They don’t name the new World Trade Centre in New York City after Obama, do they?!

    In terms of other developments to show, below I have listed a few;

    NBM towers
    Livingstone towers
    Mount Soche hotel
    Ryalls hotel
    Chayamba house
    Umoyo house
    Delamere house
    RBM buildings in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu.

    Please don’t go around thinking all our development came from him, because this belief is false.

  72. Name it. The name of the stadium will always remind Malawians what a cruel, headless, nepotistic, ugly, head strong, arrogant, pride, me first drunkard idiot the country has ever had. Have you ever head of Idi Amini stadium? Hitler? Stupid Malawians…..you will always be taken for a ride.
    This is the same idiot who killed people who demonstrated for their rights, the same idiot who kept hiding donations from outside meant to develop the lives of people in Malawi in bags in his bedroom, the same idiot who store poor pipos money to build Ndata, the same hurigan who sold Malawi to one cultural group called Mhlako, the same basted who failed to develop the north and brought about school scandals and the list goes on….here you are saying he deserves recognition….am left thinking if malawi will ever have normal academicians to take the lead.

  73. Still selling our love with money. Great BINGU was a man. Changed the nation from hunger to mwanalilenji. Who else do you think will? Bingu RIP. U WERE LIKE A FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS.

  74. Why do we give these people such an honour as if they used their money to build these structures? Hey stupid namers, you mean every leader will leave a name on every building done by the government? Its time to change our mindset!

  79. Abambo Inu Ife pa Google pomwepo tikupezapo great hall, kang’ombe building, chichiri shopping mall, lake Malawi — inuyo Google wake uti ongobweretsa bingu results?

  80. As a student-historian I support the naming. Well articulated article. We must be proud of our past and be ready to pass it on.

  82. Stupid Malawians. I thought we already respected this dude ny naming that conference centre “Bingu International Conference Centre!!!?” Name the stadium Lilongwe or anything else.

    1. you didnt respect him, he deserve to be named after, its his initiative chikukuwawani ndi chani? pangani zanu, can we talk of chakwera ngati wapanga ndi iye? njiru basi!

    2. Yea.Bingu deserves this stadium to br named after.Let us learn to forget the past and focus on todays.No one on earth has not sinned,or failed. so Bingu’s failures was seen but you that opposes this stadium name to be,you have hidden your secrets on the bare ground.I too heard someone being recommended that Malawi have lost a tremendous president.

  83. A well written article and I really like the idea that no one person will get everything right or get everything wrong. we should give credit where it is due and in this case let the stadium carry Bingu’s name and no sane Malawian should complain over this. However am a bit worried with some attitude of the author. It is either he does not know Malawi or himself is a person who will not see anything done by anybody to be beautiful if not the works of Bingu. Surely malawi is not just about the three structures you showed to your friends. You can do better in showing other pictures of Malawi but it seems you wanted to show only those attributed to Bingu’s leadership. Now that is the attitude that you have written against yet you are a culprit in it. Shame

  84. dats tru! Bingu did gret thngz. watever name! we aren’t losing anythin’ let’s respect him kungot mabulutu ena amalimbana ndi zinthu zoti nobody wil benefit.

  85. Mr Sibande, I think you’re missing the point here. I wonder if you’re writing this while you’re in Malawi or you’re still where you belong.

    You mean since Bingu managed to negotiate the projects with China then everything should be named after him? Really? In case you have forgotten or choose to ignore, it was not only Bingu who participated in thediscussions, right from the switch of diplomatic ties from Taiwanese to Chinese. Joyce Banda was there, she was the minister of foreign affairs, in the forefront of negotiations.

    Let me tell you what the main issue is. What is making pple so made about this naming is the fact that Bingu did not want this project in Lilongwe, and this came after taking away another project MUST from the same region to his farm for reasons he and his friends knew and know better. Now, in the same spirit of common sense, to name such a project after someone who abused his prerogative authority to robe the same project is truly an INSULT to pple of Lilongwe and all good thinkingMalawians.

    Naming projects that pple initiated and completed is not bad. But naming all the projects after them is creating immortality. Soon Peter will start behaving immortal for his brother.

    Mind you, these projects are loans, even you and me could have negotiated such projects. Let’s give this stadium, a neutral name for once.

  86. I am not interested in the naming of the stadium but very much interested in the pictures you show to your friends about Malawi. You are not showing the true pictures of Malawi because you seem to be very shameful and deceitful to your friends by not showing the extensive poverty, very bad housing, very bad roads, etc. Malawi is not only about impressive buildings or structures.
    Please show them also the beautiful lake, game reserves and national parks, mountains, etc.

    Just tell your friends to google Malawi and they will have a better picture of our country than the deceitful ones you are giving them. You need to find a total package of pictures that show the true Malawi with good and bad things in it. That can spur your friends to even help Malawi to develop!!!

    You seem to be ashamed of your country by being very economical with the truth.

  87. Pipo argue becoz of what Bingu did as u you know at first the so called stadium meant for Liliongwe then they decided to change their minds and transfer to Blantyre again they transfer it to Bvumbwe thyolo for that matter which is the home of a person whose name is meant to be mentioned on a stadium it’s where all these argument arises. It took a massive pressure which came from other pipo who fought for this project to reverse a decision back to Lilongwe and the issue here is not who initiated the project and don’t think pipo who argue about this issue are out of senses no again as you insinuated whatever name it can be called there’s nothing problem but mind you it will be removed when somebody from outside the box take this root you know what I mean but it just need understanding. Am not supporting those who argue or those who gave this name of a stadium no and take my point. God bless mother Malawi.

  91. No Malawian leader or any world leader scored 100% record in his capacity so dwelling much of the negatives of their ledership won’t help anything. Even those u support and think are perfect are not, they can not be 100% as they are humans and not God

  92. Give the stadium a widely acceptable name such as Lilongwe National Stadium and not this DPP idol worshiping nonsense! The stadium is being built by tax payer’s money. It’s a loan. Bingu (or any other president for that matter) was doing his job he was being paid for . It pains me when people take it as a privilege. Besides with the negative 92 billion legacy lingering over Bingu and DPP, it can be argued Bingu selfishly overpaid himself.

    If this Bingu National Stadium nonsense continues, let’s just refer to the stadium as National Stadium as we did with Robert Mugabe Highway (people rarely refer to that name!).

  93. This name reminds us nothing but tears of his bad administration! WE CAN FORGIVE BUT CAN NOT FORGET BECAUSE MABALA AWA NGAAKULU!

  95. If only the stadium was indid constructed in BT as he wished, i find your article a total bullshit! He never wanted us have dis in Lilongwe & w@ honour is dis to da useless dead spirit? Stupidddddd!!!

  96. A useless article by an obvious bootlicker. Bingu removed the stadium from Lilongwe for no good reasom. There is absolutely no justification to name it Bingu. As long power to name national projects remains with the president there will be abuses.

  98. The name Sibande is not consistent with the reasoning in the article. I expected better. When developments take place in a country, the credit goes to the people of that country, without specifying who played what role. All Malawians contribute in one way or another (e.g. through taxes) towards the developments in their country. To single one individual out as if he was a superhuman is akin to idolatry. Bingu did his role as a president, working on our behalf and for us, and so too did JB, Bakili, Kamuzu, and all elected individuals who in their course of duty did initiate important development projects. Do you want to say that because an MP in a constituency invited a donor or a well-wisher to construct a bridge then the bridge should be named after the MP? How many roads, bridges, schools, clinics, hospitals airports, seaports, etc will have names after the individuals who played a role in their developments? How many presidents has America had and how many developmental structures are named after them? Malawians waste time deifying their leaders as if they were gods. That’s why these leaders become too big-headed. The stadium should not have been named after Bingu, but it should have been called Lilongwe National Stadium. You can be certain that the name Bingu will be erased when another president comes to power. Bingu was a bad man worth forgetting. No one wants to remember a man who dies on top of another man’s wife. Sibande what’s wrong with you?

  100. you are so stupid to believe the only good things about Malawi are the little infrastructure that Bingu built. Iwo zoona kukala konseko chabwino chomwe ungawaonetse anzako cha Malawi ndi zomangamanga? Shame!

  101. How can the youth operate successful businesses pamene a police akulimbana ndi achinyamata, zikuchitika pa Mwanza

  102. Kuganiza moperewera, Malawi sizatukuka cha maganizo ngati amenewa. Chopatsira dzina loti Bingu ine sindiona chifukwa chake. Ntchito ya Bingu yinali yotukula, ndikumanga Malawi. Ndipo ankalandira malipiro pa ntchito yimene ankagwira. Ine ndikuti Lilongwe National Stadium. Tikuona ma world cup, Africa cup of nation ine sinaonepo stadium ayitchula dzina la mtsogoleri. Maganizo operewera Mr Sibande. We need Malawi to develop not to download pictures. You are short minded Mr Sibande.

  103. Malawians like selling themselves short. People forgot Bingu was a servant of the people of Malawi not a master, we gave him the mandate to be our servant and discharge his duties of which one was to plan for such infrastructure projects. You do not reward people for doing what they are supposed to do. Am sure Bingu family are already happy that BICC was named as such to acknowledge his contribution, naming the new stadium in his name is just unnecessary. i would suggest selling naming rights to the stadium to one of the corporates so that we get extra revenue for annual maintenance………

  105. This reads like Mzati nkolokosa’s perverted logic. nothing of value here, so you fancy yourself a thinker? Zinazi ukamva abale ngati kuti useke. odi uko!!!

  106. Not just this stadium but even nsanje world inland port(Bingu Inland Port)because this is bingus brain child project -no one else dead or alive had that idea.

  107. Indeed it takes great of amount of effort through political will ,risk taking for a country to develop in these years of global economic challenges for a country to develop in short period of time Late Bingu had great sense and skill.We need to support issues that make our country great Late Kamuzu of MCP had a great 30 years of rule with iron fist but people remembered him with all the praises but let the truth be told Late Bing was a great son of mother Malawi…the honour in order

  109. It’s not true that the key word only gave you three results on google. I, after reading this post, rushed to goole the same and probably a few other words (ie, Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe & Mzuz) and was given excellent infrastructure (to say if your intention was to show them buildings). All in all, I think you didn’t write this post to reflect Malawi rather your personal interest.

  110. Am crying for my beloved president Bingu Muthalika.May his soul rest in peace and its true NTCHITO ZA MANJA ANU ZIKUKUCHITILANI UMBONI.

  111. Good article. But why didn’t you download the reserve bank of Malawi,capital hill,kang’ombe building just to name a few. Of course Bingu did his part of which I am also impressed,but to say that you couldn’t show more pictures because there weren’t any is kind of false. On another note according to the History that I have read and heard Bingu was never exiled by Kamuzu. Do some fact finding on this and you will get the truth because Bingu was never a politician rather a civil servant by then working in Zomba. On the naming of the stadium I don’t have a problem with whatever name is given to the stadium. I have a problem with most of your facts which are utterly false and misleading. Bingu can not be compared to likes of Orton Chirwa,Masauko Chembekezo, Dunduzu Chisiza,Atati Mpakati just to name a few.

  113. uzeleza ungajumpha apa cha, do you think bingu wakatola ndalama zamthumba mwake kumangila ivi ukuyowoya apa? bingu wandaperekepo msonkho, nindalama zithu tose izi so there is no way we shld call every outstanding structure bingu, bingu bingu,

  114. I agree completely. He changed the face of Lilongwe. MCP should be the least to complain. Bingu merely accomplished the vision of Kamuzu on Lilongwe city. He is dead, we must agree that Bingu left a legacy.

  118. Useless. For me Bingiza or Bingo will remain a dictator whose minorities will take time to erase in memory. After Kamuzu, Bingu is tyrant number two that Malawi produced.

  120. Akupatsa zingati. Go anywhere in Africa where China is constructing even greater and mightier infrastrcture, they dont praise their Presidents because they are knowlegeable people who know that its the works of China not thier poor Goverments which fail even to buy bandages for hospital use. Stop this bootlicking stupidity and get real. Without China, there would be no new Parliarment, Presidential hotel etc. Let Malawi government do their own things and then show us their works.

  121. Reading through your article leaves me with great sadness. I can not imagine that for you the only good thing you can see in Malawi are the buildings you have mentioned. Either you do not go round enough to see your country and appreciate it or you do not have the capacity to appreciate beauty or your love for Bingu blinds you or you are just being plain stupid. However you are right about Bingu. He had great test and no one can deny that. I have no problem naming the stadium after him. This should encourage other leaders to also leave something tangible for the nation to remember them with. But I wouldn’t be surprised if any future leader changed the name to Joyce Banda. That considering that after Bingu tried to move it to the South it was JB who brought it back and it was during her time the the stadium was started. Remember Dr Banda did the Dedza town improvement plan it was Bingu who implemented it. On the opening day Tembo reminded everyone of the fact. Bingu did not deny the fact but informed Tembo that it is the one implementing who gets the credit which in the case of the stadium it should be JB. That said please bambo shed off the inferiority complex that made you fail to show the beauty Malawi has to your friend. I was in Ndola the other time and met these Germans. They asked about Malawi and I showed them pictures from Ntchisi forest reserve Cottage, a few places along the lake and a couple of lodges. The next year I met them at Chintheche Inn having spent a week in lilongwe site seeing. Our leaders may be out of tune but this country is beautiful and only full can’t see that. May be you associate mostly with fools. Can you imagine what your fiends thought of you when you said you couldn’t download pictures on the net. MALAWIANS are so backward they can’t use the net.

  122. Every head of state in Malawi has made some contribution in some ways. Its right and proper to name some structures their names. But l am at pains to name a structure as Joyce Banda as l cant find any at the moment. Oooh how about Muluzi? Which structure? Bingu has some like the hotel in Lilongwe and the university in Ndata that was supposed to be in Lilongwe but never mind.

  123. Next time show them real malawian pictures ie lake malawi,mulanje mt,national parks and traditional dancers because these backs our warm heartedness in Africa.Be proud of what you are and have,as a true patriot.But I expected MUST to be named after Bingu by its location and the way it was bulldozed from Lilongwe to Thyolo regardless of parliament’s approval for the same.And the stadium could be named after another hero ie.Chakufwa Chihana or call it Freedom/Independence stadium to strike a balance.Why should Bingu’s name be confined in Lilongwe’s infrastructures only? was he not Kamuzu’s admirer?His idol has had kamuzu stadium/bridge and highway in the south,Kamuzu palace,academy,institute for youth in the central and others in the north.Please lets have equal shares of resources.otherwise this could be taken as an indicator of unfair distribution of resources.For the mean time,lets focus on our disaster issue.

  124. The author is obviously biased towards Bingu as he shows his friends only Bingu Buildings and he is a liar when he says those are the only buildings, Lilongwe has the Reserve Bank, the Capital Hill, the State House, among others; there is Club Mak, Sun and Sands, Livingstonia Hotel and Beaches at the Lake which are part of Malawi; there is the Reserve and National banks buildings in Blantyre. Because most of these buildings were not built during Bingu they are not worth mentioning? What screwed thinking! When you are outside tell the others what they will see in Malawi, they cannot come all the way to come and see Bingu hotel building they have plenty of those in their own countries!

  125. Lemme say it on the onset that if it was a must to have somebody’s name on that stadium,then Bingu’s name was ahead of many.Does Bingu name deserve the honour of being put there? Yes or No.Yes becoz he initiated it.No because the structure would have been given other value-adding names.
    we are told that it will take us about 20years to pay back the loan incurred on the stadium.How much will have Bingu contributed even if he was still around? The answer is Zero tambala.Yes you get me right ZERO TAMBALA..why? presidents dont pay tax.I can say that myself will contribute something(from 2017 when am back from my studies).We are told that such structures cost alot to maintain.If i was the one to make the decision of naming the stadium i would have left it to companies to bid to have their name or name of their product on the stadium.Ever heard of Coca-cola Dome?,FNB? or Fly Emirates?.The money realised from such deals will have helped alot in managing the structure or even as far as paying back the loan.Now that the stadium is having somebody name it will be difficult to change coz people will think the decision to change the name is politically motivated.Dzuka Malawi Dzuka!

  126. Reading through your article leaves me with great sadness. I can not imagine that for you the only good thing you can see in Malawi are the buildings you have mentioned. Either you do not go round enough to see your country and appreciate it or you do not have the capacity to appreciate beauty or your love for Bingu blinds you or you are just being plain stupid. However you are right about Bingu. He had great test and no one can deny that. I have no problem naming the stadium after him. This should encourage other leaders to also leave something tangible for the nation to remember them with. But I wouldn’t be surprised if any future leader changed the name to Joyce Banda. That considering that after Bingu tried to move it to the South it was JB who brought it back and it was during her time the the stadium was started. Remember Dr Banda did the Dedza town improvement plan it was Bingu who implemented it. On the opening day Tembo reminded everyone of the fact. Bingu did not deny the fact but informed Tembo that it is the one implementing who gets the credit which in the case of the stadium it should be JB. That said please bambo shed off the inferiority complex that made you fail to show the beauty Malawi has to your friend. I was in Ndola the other time and met these Germans. They asked about Malawi and I showed them pictures from Ntchisi forest reserve Cottage, a few places along the lake and a couple of lodges. The next year I met them at Chintheche Inn having spent a week in lilongwe site seeing. Our leaders may be out of tune but this country is beautiful and only full can’t see that. May be you associate mostly with fools.

  127. So, all important developments should be named after a president who initiated them? Poor reasoning. You are also wasting time arguing about names instead of writing about chitukuko

  128. Bingu anali TATE wa chitukuko ku malawi kuno, koma abiti Namaloko kupha Bingu chifukwa chofuna mphando.
    Lero ndi uja akusowa mtendere mai oipa kwambiri.
    R.I.P TATE BINGU

  129. Bingu was generally an insane person, because he named a certain road in Blantyre, Robert Mugabe for no apparent reason. What has Mugabe done to us. Lets call that road Bingu Road.

    Another road, in Lilongwe was changed to Paul Kagame. He didn’t tell us any reason for changing the from Chilambula Road. Should we conclude that he hated Chilambula or what. Has Paul Kagame done anything to Malawi. Why is Ndata Farm not named after him as most people do name their farms to reflect a relationship with owner.

    The stadium was secured as a national asset and your Bingu did that in the course of his duties. So what’s special about giving it a different name that reflect national pride. Not only Lomwes, chewas or individual.

    You people are selfish, self-centered. That stadium belongings to all of us.Stop personalizing public assets, that’s why people vandalize property, because people don’t own them.

    That’s why someone changed the colors of our national flag and maybe he wanted to change the name of our national team to Obama FC, what stupid minister. Respect us, right? And will respect you as well.

  130. In your dreams and to hell with your attempt to hoodwink us about the naming issue. You think Bingu meant that stadium to be in central region? Why imposing a name over a structure whose existence in that region was almost hijacked/stolen by the same nepotist bingu who had wanted all good things to ve in thyolo. Magani yanu in thyolo and name it Bingu. This one can even sound better with JB Stadium or Lilongwe Stadium. Mind u the name “National” doesn’t anchor well bearing in mind that more structures of such nature will be constructed across the country. So we cant afford having similar structures named National this and that.

  131. Akuti many buildings in Malawi are already named after Bingu. but i can only 1 and thats Bingu international Conference centre. where are the others structures named after Bingu. Bingu deserves accolade and i think Bingu has not been honoured enough. Bingu brought the stadium to Malawi. if Bingu was shortsighted and without vision, he could have asked the chinese to buy for Malawi maize, zitenje, blankets, tshirts or just kabaza bicycles. but he knew those are cheap shortlived stuff.

    and remember we also have bakili highway, Bakili bridge, kamuzu road, kamuzu bridge, kamuzu stadium, kamuzu central hospital, kamuzu college of nursing, kamuzu institute for youth, kamuzu international airport, etc.

  132. Pali nzeru apa,mwayesesa kulemba zosaimila mbali koma zobwelesa ntendere ndi ulemu. Anagwila ntchito mwamuna ucha.

  133. I don’t want to argue about a name that befits this overdue facility. But the flimsy reasons given in the first few paragraphs are nausiating and childish. Malawi has a beautiful lake to be proud of, peace loving and warm people, rich culture, etc. Don’t continue to seek your identity in the future. Live in the present. You are you and you come from Malawi, and Malawi is not running because of those three buildings. Infact the majority can do without them – those structures are ffor the privileged few. Your comnent filsl me with indignation! Was it not shameful enough for Bingu to relocate the university and stadium from Lilongwe? Is that worth remembering him for? Why not name it Tsabango or Chitukula or Lilongwe or Lingadzi. It doesn’t have to be some snobbish politician.

    1. As a matter of fact, ine i would rather download n show Gemini House than any of the 3 named buildings…za chaina izi!

  134. I for one believes that the stadium should be given a neatro name like, capital city stadium, National stadium or to complecate matters we just call it JB stadium because it was her who brought lt LL after it was smaggled to BT by DPP. Besides we need to have some naming process osamangolota maina mukakhuta ntonjani,

  136. Just reveal Your identity that You are a DPP operative. See what infrastructure developments werd done by Sata in Zambia in 3 years and none is in his name. Useless Malawians always praising leaders even the corrupt and develish.

  137. Very true. ..I loved bingu so much my hero who inspired me I will never deny the fact. Zomunyasa akakolope nyanja

  138. This article is trash and irrelevant. Surely the writer is a stupid and biased person.
    Let me remind you, your Bingu took the university meant for Lilongwe, he built in his village but no one ever said that is Bingu university of science.

  139. I give you ACREDIT. you such amazing man, God will bless you more for saying the truth. I will remember you in paradise.

  140. Very true. ..I loved bingu so much my hero who inspired me I will never deny the fact. Zomunyasa akakolole nyanja

  141. No one who has his/her death celebrated needs to be named after anythng, let alone leave a mark! People needs that name forgotten not reminded! Kamuzu was a dictator but not a single person celebrated his death, so your argument is shallow en superficial!

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