HRDC lobby MPs to block Mutharika’s ‘illogical’ stadium projects
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) said it will lobby members of parliament against allocating funds Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers stadia projects.
President Peter Mutharika, during one of his campaign rallies for May elections, promised to build stadiums for Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers.
On Wednesday, Mutharika met with Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and representatives of Bullets and Wanderers at the Sanjika Palace in Blantyre, and assured the two clubs that he will keep his election campaign to build stadiums for them.
He went further to say that the stadia projects will be included in the 2019/2020 National Budget.
But HRDC has branded the stadia projects as “illogical, lack of prioritisation and a outright ause of public funds” for government to finance projects for commercial entities, saying the money could be used prudently to build schools, buy medical supplies and critical needs that have been neglected.
HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo an acerbic critic of the Mutharika regime, said the funds meants for the privately-owned football clubs.would instead be channelled to the health and education sector.
Mtmabo said Mutharika if he insist on the projects he should personally use his cash and not taxpayers money.
“We cannot allow abuse of public resources when we arec already striuggling financially as a nation,” said Mtambo.
Mtambo said it is “illogical” for the President and government to fund luxuries for commercial entities when pupils are still learning under trees without adequeate learning and teaching materials in many schools in the country.
He pointed out that two clubs are private firms that are in business and are making profits.
But Mutharika has defended the move as one way of developing football in the country. He said the stadiums will always be used and enjoyed by the public.
Commentators say they would have excused Mutharika if he had said he would offer the two football clubs tax-waivers on materials for building their stadia.
“Why should Malawians, who have to go to hospitals that have no medicine, have to send their children to learn under a tree and walk long distances on rugged roads to access social amenities build stadia for privately-run football clubs?
“This country is known for having visionless leaders, whose priorities are upside down. Is building stadiums for football clubs what DPP calls wise and dynamic leadership? Do not lead us to destruction Mr President. This country does not owe Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers a stadium. Let them build the stadiums from their coffers, not from public coffers. This is unacceptable and the sooner this madness is stopped, the better,” reads part of a newspaper column on Sunday.
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Dziko la Malawi lili NDI stadium imodzi basi. Zina zimene timati NDI ma stadium ndi zinzake. Ma bwalo amasewera amasukulu mmayiko anzathu ndiabwino kwambiri kuposa mabwalo athu amene tikunyadirawa i.e Kamuzu Stadium. Tikufunika mabwalo amasewera atsopano komanso abwino. Peter wachita bwino kwambiri. Mulungu dalitsani Malawi munsunge mu mtendere. Gonjetsani adani onse…..nsanje
Inu a HRDC, mukamaliza yanu nkhani ya Ansah yo muyambe mwaima . Budget issues is debated in the Parliament, Not Human Rights Defenders. Kodi Mumadziwa kuti APOLISI amakwapula ndi kutchgaya ma butsu. Nanga Bwanji Boma imagula unyolo. Inuyo a HRDC CHITANI lOBBYING KUTI UNYOLO ONSE AKAUPONYE KU NYANJA. tIKHALE MU DZIKO LOPANDA UNYOLO.
Whether it is debated or not we need to be independent thinkers. I have followed developments in many countries and one of them is Rwanda. Rwanda has developed in a period of less than 15yrs better than Malawi. If you take pictures of Kigali and compare them to any of our so called cities, you will be embarrased. The President of Rwanda is more focused hence his developments have put Rwanda on the world map. This vote chasing business must stop and we need to focus on beneficial projects. We lack proper airports, bus depots, roads, hospitals, schools etc. After… Read more »
What type of Economics theories are you using to come up with this lobby to block the stadium projects.Infrastructure is very important for the economy to grow becuase it attracts direct foreign investments to come to the country,that is why most of the african leaders take money from africa to USA and Europe because there is good infrastructure.Our roads networks are good for the economy transport goods from whereever they are produced to come to the cities and export to overseas countries.I think this is good because of the following reasons: 1.The stadiums will be there forever and they will… Read more »
It is a pity that you support this pointless ideas.Indeed Malawi lack proper infrustructures. However, one has to think what projects to be initiated in terms of alleviation of poverty. In my opinion, building proper hospital which are wll furnished and equiped with all the necessary materials would benefint Malawians. It is a pity that patients have to bring their own blankest to hospitals. Patients sleep on the floors and have no proper food given to them as patients. The bus depots (Example Waenela, Lilongwe) are an eyesore. Very embarrassing to arriving patrons from other countries. South Africa has Park… Read more »
This is lack of good leadership and Malawians are living in abject poverty social services are non existent and schools and hospitals have no resources soldiers and policemen have no proper and enough resources like uniforms and expendables they are renting snacks in substandard locations with no running water and pit latrines.
Is this Mutharika living in Utopia?
He must be stopped from this madness.
Twenty one century Malawian kid’s still learning under the trees & certain grand pa called him self the leader of the country planning to construct the stadium for the private club owner ?God please save us & our future generations
Ine ndiwa Bullets koma zoti msonkho wanga umange stadium yawo ndiye ayi. Tikagumula zimenezo
Mtambo has lost it. Malawians chose their representatives and the people will speak through the representatives. Who is Mtambo representing? Isnt he the one sanctioning the breaking and burning buildings? Who is Mtambo anyway. And he has a very ugly face.
You don’t know why you chose your MP. MPs are not elected to approve or pass budgets of soccer teams or private entities.
Mtambo is more intelligent than your President Mutharika. He talks more sense than APM
It is a pity that we do not have collective thinking instead we start defending parties. Can we not for a second get out of this and think like neutral people. I dont stay there and there is no party I support, after all the next candidate despite which party he or she represent will do the same mistakes. Focus of most of our leadership is to get rich not the country. That is why I said that we need to be independent and discuss logical issues. We need proper roads,transport systems, depots not Wenela or Lilongwe bus depot. Our… Read more »
Come on People, this leader you call Mutharika is one of a useless leader. He does not think like a leader. He thinks like Idi Amin. If he wants to build BB and Wanderers stadia, let him get his one million dollars in america to pay for those things. He can take money out of his 401K and do as he wishes, but, if Malawians are so damn enough to let this guy use your tax money for this nonsense, then you guys are screwed forever.
Spot on my brother. You are right. Mutharika is a useless president
Mr President, the idea is gòod but using tax payers money for a private owned entity in which the government has no shares is not a good idea.
Lets look the truth in the face ,we have a lot of problems in Malawi which needs serious attention than building stadium,thats just a luxury thing ,its like spending money buying toys for your kid then failing to pay school fees ,intelligent parent look at priorities