CDEDI demands Minister Msungama firing over swimming pool

“… alleged misleading of President Chakwera on the K9.4bn swimming pool project”

The Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has demanded immediate dismissal of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Ulemu Msungama, for allegedly misleading President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on the MK9.4 billion world class swimming pool project.

The government intends to construct the world-class swimming pool at the Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe.

Namiwa: Ministers must be truthful advisors to the President

But the development has riled many stakeholders, including CDEDI, which argues that a swimming pool is not a priority area to invest in at a time the nation is grappling with unprecedented suicide cases among the youths.

Speaking in an interview with Nyasa Times on Tuesday, CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa said Malawi is faced with a number of challenges in the health, education and economic sectors; hence, it would be unimaginable for the government to spend such amounts on a luxurious sports complex, which he feared could soon become a white elephant, and a drain for our hard-earned taxes.

“CDEDI has learnt with shock reports that the Malawi Government through the Ministry of Sports intends to construct a MK9.4 billion world class swimming pool. It is uncalled for, for a well-meaning leader, to invest such a colossal amount in a project that will benefit a few when the same government is elusive on the future of the one million jobs the youth were promised; when the country’s cities and towns have bad road networks; and when the health and education systems are falling apart,” he said.

Ulemu Msungama: Accused of misleading the President-pic by Lisa Kadango

“It is against this background that CDEDI believes that the current minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Ulemu Msungama, is giving Chakwera wrong advice. Malawi does not need a world-class swimming pool as Msungama wants both the President and the voters to believe. We need facilities like the St John of God’s Centre that should provide sporting, counselling and guidance to our youths,” added Namiwa.

The CDEDI boss has since demanded the dismissal of Msungama from the Cabinet and announce the “discontinuation of this insult to the majority of Malawian youths who seek decent livelihood opportunities”.

Namiwa said it is surprising to note that Msungama has chosen to mislead President Chakwera on what the youths in Malawi are looking for.

“Malawi youths need the one million jobs hence our call for the release of the much-awaited new cabinet so that there is someone to champion the creation of one million jobs. Malawi youths need adequate spaces in primary and secondary schools as well as in its colleges. Malawians need community playgrounds fitted with counselling facilities across the country to avert the surging cases of suicides,” he emphasized.

Namiwa warned that should the government proceed with its decision to construct the swimming pool, CDEDI would not hesitate to mobilize the youth to stand up and refuse to be used as pawns.

He urged Chakwera to order the discontinuation of the project to avoid confirming speculations that some Malawi Congress Party officials have direct financial interests in the project.

Msungama could not be immediately reached for a comment.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
13 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
kavibangwa
kavibangwa
2 years ago

we don’t rush on some of these things we call development because soon or later they will strangle the economy. That thing will need money to manage it and if it will not be bringing in the money to sustain operations on its own then we will have another case like BNS.

U don’t just wake up and embark on a project without a cost benefit analysis.

laws
laws
2 years ago

I don’t understand where we are heading to.We are not yet there where we should be planning of swimming pool construction unless our brains are washed.Just imagine CAF/FIFA has declared that in MALAWI there is NO football ground which can host an international match,and we are allocating to ZAMBIA. In normal sense what does this reflect to the world map,yet we have a government in place not being ashamed kkkkk,here is a sports minister instead of paying attention on this matter he diverts to a swimming pool contraction.GOD SAVE MY COUNTRY

Chimutu
Chimutu
2 years ago

Mr Namiwa be reminded that one million jobs can not be created from a single industry and refusing to have such infrastructure in our cities may mean we are happy with the current status quo. Please accept change and if not then change will change you.

David Jones
David Jones
2 years ago

It is a misconception to think the man at the helm is being misled and yet he has a head supposedly containing brain to assist him think rationally. Msungama much as he is another dull person, he must have informed the boss about the impending drama and possibly sought for the leaders input. Who is a minister compared to a president when it comes to decision making? Surprisingly, those who are saying things are in order with the current government do not know what is in store for them. You meet them, they can’t even afford the cheapest tablet of… Read more »

fetaaa
fetaaa
2 years ago
Reply to  David Jones

Mr Namiwa is misled himself, where was he when the budget was presented in parliament and MPs were discussing? that was the right time for him to raise his voice not now when it is time for implementation. msungama is just following what the parliament agreed. After all it seems namiwa does not understand the importance of swimming pool because he does not even know how to swim. His cadet status is spoiling him a lot without knowing what to argue. This is a plain and stratight forward issue no firing of minister. In anything let malawians fire the MPs… Read more »

Kaude
Kaude
2 years ago
Reply to  fetaaa

Inu bwana mmadziwa swimming eti. What kind of swimming pool can cost that much? Is it another lake malawi? Dont always clap hands for mediocrity. Love your president dont worship him.

Opportunist
Opportunist
2 years ago

This country can not develop with such mentality.Accept change

Magufuli
2 years ago

Well done Mr minister. This is a good job creation for the youth who will be taking care of the facility. Don’t listen to enemies of development. Let minister of health go find donors to build hospitals they are wanting, but this facility must be built. Lake Malawi is turning green, let tourists have an option for clear, clean water to swim

gogo petulo
2 years ago

With such mentality as that of Namiwa, Malawi cannot develop. We urge gvt to proceed with the project. namiwa is a mouth piece of dpp which cannot be happy to see the Tonse gvt progressing.

Kaude
Kaude
2 years ago
Reply to  gogo petulo

so swimming is progress? koma yaaaaa

Khamani
Khamani
2 years ago
Reply to  Kaude

Infrastructure in Malawi is progress. Further more , this is a health facility of sort – exercising is health. Mumapanga exercise inuyo ? Ndakayika.

Mzozodo
Mzozodo
2 years ago

You are right Mr. Namiwa, however, you should have shown how patriotic you are by voicing this concern in 2018 when Malawi accepted to host the games. We’re youths employed then? Did we have basic amenities then? Why didn’t you demand dismissal for the then Sports Minister? Otherwise I concur with you on this one

franco
franco
2 years ago

I do not agree with Namiwa’s (EDEDI) thinking on the swiming pool government project. He is not looking at the whole value project and why it is being implemeted. This is for the coming International games in 2022 hosted by Malawi, which will see countries participating coming to Malawi giving business to hotels, transport sector and many others, thus creating jobs. Thereafter it will be available to all Malawians and others to use for a fee, This is going together with the sport complex his Excellecy opened at Bingu Stadium recently. Development of this country can not just be focussed… Read more »

Read previous post:
Chakwera shields Mtumodzi from arrest

"...on consideration for a top State House job" President Lazarus Chakwera is allegedly shielding Director of Information Chikumbutso Mtumodzi’s arrest...

Close