Govt erred to move stadium without parliament approval
Malawi government on Thursday conceded it made an error on point of law to relocate the Chinese funded national stadium project, which was supposed to be built between Area 47 and 49 in Lilongwe, to Blantyre.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) MP for Mchinji North East, Alex Chitete, said the project was approved by parliament and any relocation should have received the House blessings.
Legislator for Nkhotakota Central, Edwin Banda, who is a lawyer, said “it’s wrong for anybody to flout the legislation that we approved.”
He was backed by another MCP MP Lilongwe Mapuyu South, Joseph Njobvuyalema, who wondered how parliament’s decision could be changed anyhow.
Njobvuyalema accused President Bingu wa Mutharika for “bringing in personal decisions into what Parliament has dully decided.”
He said: “On 11 November 2010, this parliament passed an authorization loan bill meant to construct a stadium in Lilongwe. It is therefore unconstitutional for a Head of State to think otherwise.”
Energy Minister Goodall Gondwe said the government would bring amendments to the House for the changes.
“At an appropriate time government would introduce an amendment bill for approval on this project,” said Gondwe.
MCP MP indicated they would shoot down the bill.
Minister of Sports and Youth Development Symon Vuwa Kaunda justified the decision for the relocation of the stadium designed to cater for 40,000 seats.
He said it pleased President Bingu wa Mutharika to have the stadium constructed in Blantyre because Lilongwe has already a number of projects from the of Chinese projects which have so far benefited the Central Region – an hotel and parliament – and soon a primary school also in the capital, Lilongwe. He said the northern region has benefitted with the “Bingu Highway” –the Karonga-Chitipa Road.
“What is wrong with us to consider our brothers in Southern and Eastern Regions,” Vuwa said
Vuwa said the South only had the Malawi University of Science and Technology in Thyolo as the Chinese funded project
Government has already identified a site for the project near Soche Technical College in Limbe.
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