Malawi names China-funded stadium after Bingu wa Mutharika

January 28, 2015 Elijah Phimbi-Nyasa Times 111 Comments

Malawi government has named the  Chinese-funded stadium being built in   in the capital city, Lilongwe after  late president Bingu wa Mutharika.

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

The stadium, which is earmarked for completion in November,  will be called Bingu National Stadium.

Youth Sports Minister Grace Obama Chiumia confirmed the development and said this is in honour of the fallen leader who initiated the construction of the stadium with a 40 000 capacity.

“The reason was that the late president was the one who initiated this project and cabinet felt it wise and proper to name it in his honour,” said Chiumia.

The stadium is being built with funding from the Chinese government.

The $70 million (K26.6 billion) stadium built in Lilongwe boasts an extendable roof, electronic and electrical equipment, an electronic scoreboard, 110 closed-circuit television cameras and a posh VIP lounge.

Once completed, 85 percent of the stadium will have covered stands with in-built floodlights.

The stadium was previously moved to Blantyre by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under the leadership of late Mutharika but later President Joyce Banda who took over the leadership following Mutharika’s sudden death relocated it back to Lilongwe.

She laid a foundation stone marking the beginning of the construction of the stadium on 11th July, 2012.

Meanwhile,  Malawi government has arranged a trip to Zambia for officials in the Ministry of Sports to learn how to manage the stadium .

China already built a similar stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.

Deputy principal secretary in the ministry, Symon Maliko, said the orientation is to prepare for eventual takeover of the facility from the Ministry of Lands.

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111 replies on “Malawi names China-funded stadium after Bingu wa Mutharika”

  3. Tulo basi. His own house he named it Casablanca. You are busy naming national structures after that idiot. Indeed that is why we Malawians are likened to dead people who cannot think

  5. J.B INTERNATIONAL STADIUM what a nice and sweet name to mention I have declared and let it be established in Jesus name. Amen.

  6. WE KNOW WHO BROUGHT BACK TO LILONGWE THAT STADIUM AND THATS WILL BE THE NAME THAT THE STADIUM WILL TAKE EVEN GOD KNOWS SAY NYO O O MUONE IF GOD IS NOT GOING TO CAST YOU OUT OF THE RING AGAIN

  7. Only for this stadium we need to consult all Malawians to avoid changing of the name in future. I do not think DPP will be there forever. UDF changed Kamuzu Stadiun to Chichiri Stadium and when DPP came in it was reversed back to Kamuzu Stadium. Please only for this stadium let us have the name that will be agreed upon by all Malawians and not only very few ones.

  8. Koma ndiye ee mwalimbana. Zinthu zikavuta let God alone solve, not peoples mind. Bwanji sunja anatisovera zijazi zinthu zitavuta. why not now.

  9. Zimene mwayambazo ndi chiyambi choti pa stadium imeneyi tidzaluzirapo chifukwa cha minyama ya Moya wanuyo amene mukuti galaundi litchedwe dzina lake.Mmene amafuna kuti lipite ku mmwera panali nzeru pamepo. Kudzikonda basi mukufuna chilichonse chikhale kumwera ngati kuti Malawi ndi wa inu nokha. Chauta naye amaona kuti pamenepa chilungamo chasowa ndiye ndibwino kosowetsa wopanda chilungamo ndi chikondiyo. Ambuye munatiombola ananufe pomva madandaulo athu pamabvuto ambili amene munthuyu anabweletsa mu dziko lino.

  11. In Malawi is it only politicians who deserve such honour?how about these silent heros ?when are we going to recognise them?why always praising these dudes who have alot of innocent blood on thier hands,lets change the way we do things

  12. how stupid of u..what did bingu do for sports for a stadium to be named after himisnt he the one that refused to meet chilemba the boxer one of malawis best athletes?politics in everything really? so bingu stadium…bingu hotel..bingu conference…bingu highway…mightaswel name this country bingu estate while at it…in 2019 tikazavotela chipani china the first thing they should change is this stupid name..bingu stadium my foot…he did nothing for sports…i hope the magots have gotten to him by now..foolish minister justifying such a stupid move..choncho ziphuphu zibngathe kumasoko?nganya

  14. I want to agree with the name he deserves it. Bingu really liked to dream in color. May his soul Rest In Peace.

  15. Thats commendable,give credit where it is due,he is the man who left a footprint both local and international,may His soul rest in peace

  16. I don’t have a problem. Will you please build another stadium in Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Nkhotakota, and Karonga
    in order our players to train considering climate in regions.

  17. Guys, Chinese built a 60,00-seater stadium in Dar es Salaam Tanzania at a total cost of $56 million. Is the $70 million for a 40,000-seater stadium fair for Malawi or someone somewhere is taking the other 20%?

  18. MALAWI CROCODILE PARTY =MCP NDI A AMENE AKUDANA NDI ZINALO CHOSECHO BINGU ANA BWEZERETSA ZINA LA KAMUZU STADIUM

    PLUNDER PARTY= PP IWO AKAPELEKE MAYINA A NG’OMBE ZAWO ANA PELEKA

    UNION OF DEVILS AND FOOLS=UDF INU MUNACHOTSA KAMUZU STADIUM KUSAYAMIKA ZA AZANU ANACHITA NGATI ENAWA

    DIESEL ,PETROL PALIBE= DPP IFE TIKUFUNA STIDIUM ZAMBILI KWA MBILI KU BT NDI KU NORTH

  22. Indeed an empty tin always make a lot of noise. BINGU NATIONAL STADIUM what a nice and meaningful name. Aja anali Atate anzeru pa Malawi pano. Mzimu wake uwuse mtendre

  24. Ife ndiye titani?
    Tiribe nazo ntchito zimenezo
    Olo mnsewu wa Zomba-BT anakautcha Bingu road, ziribe ntchito.
    In fact olo atatchula zitukuko zonse zoyambitsa Bingu kuti Bingu Reserve Bank in Mzuzu, Bingu Shopping mall in Lilongwe etc, IFE TIRIBE NAZO NTCHITO.

  25. Minister Grace Chiumia says a Malawi team will be visiting Zambia to learn how a similar stadium, built by same Chinese contractor, is being managed. Well, they may as well learn from Zambians about stadium naming

  26. Ndisadzamvenso mukutchula dzina la Binguli mwamva? Must inkafunika kumangidwa Ku Lilongwe ndi stadium iye nkuipititsa Ku munda kwake under bineth trust. Musandichimwitse mwamva? Mxiii . Alhomwe mumanyoza achewafe chonsecho tinavotera DPP ine zimandiwawa mwamva

  28. Musova!!!! Tchito za manja ake zimuchitile umboni, pangani zanu zikuchitileni umboni,muzazitche maina onse omwe alikukhosi kwanu .osamachuluka nzeru pa zinthu zoti zinabwela chifukwa cha nzeru za anzanu. an empty tin alwayz makes alot of noise.

  29. Musova! Ntchito za manja ake zimuchitile umboni. whatever.pangani zanu zikuchitileni umboni athu osayamika inu.

  30. Bingu didn’t want the stadium built in Lilongwe so in my raw thinking it shouldn’t have been his name. Anyway, it’s ok.

    1. The issue of where the stadium was to be built is irrelevant. What matters most is that it has been built in Malawi and was initiated by one of the bright sons of Malawi. We argued on similar sentiments in 1972 when Kamuzu wanted to relocate the capital city from Zomba to Lilongwe. The west opposed to his idea and therefore did not assist him with aid on this one except for RSA on his persevierence. Could we say we can’t appreciate him just because he wanted to develope his home Region? Not at all! He is also one of the bright sons Malawi has ever produced hence: Kamuzu Central Hospital, Kamuzu ……… with a long list if things named after him.
      Therefore Bingu National Stadium befits this reason.

  33. Are we going to name every structure in Malawi after the initiating presidents? Then how many former presidents names will be there?

  36. Ine ndikuona kuti amlakho ndi ozikonda. Bakili anasintha maina Kamuzu koma Bingu anabwezera maina. Ok. Amalawi tisamazikonde. For neutrality call this stadium Joyce Banda National Stadium cifukwa anali osazikonda

  38. Anthu ena amafuna kuti azimveka iwowo basi. Kodi malemu Bingu anakulakwilani ciani kodi?
    Boma silinalakwise kena kalokonse ai.
    Amai azapasidwa mseu wa vhingale ukazatha osadanda ai.

  40. Why african govts are fond of naming national structures in honour of their political party leaders who have done little contribution to the development of the nations? The best name could be Lilongwe national stadium. Grace chiume jack up such names are likely to be reversed when new party govt takes over. For example flag change and KIA. Dpp cabinet can not learn a lesson

  41. I dont understand mbuli zonse zomwe zikuti the stadium should be called Joyce Banda. Koma mwana akabadwa whose surname does he/she use, is it the one who impregnated or the one who took care of the baby?

  42. Achewa mwano siukukuyenerani. Honestly Bingu did alot in Lilongwe than in Blantyre. Let us learn to be honest. Lilongwe yasukusula lero and ikuoneka bwino, ngakhale anthu ake ali otuwa, chifukwa cha Bingu. There was nothing that was done by Bingu in Blantyre. Good roads, a highway, hotel of international standard, Kamuzu Musoleum, Parliament, Stadium etc ndiye osamalalata ayi. Nyawu anazichotsa munsewu and cleaned it. For the first time a good road to Nchisi etc

  43. Palibe vuto ndipo boma lachita bwino ndipo coz of this name flames idziwina mwina tipite ku world cup. Mumaziwa dzina limathandiza bingu eyi mamuna bambo zina lafika maiko ambiri ili world cup tikamenya basi. Kamuzu tamuyesa walekedza pa africa cup of nation pano tiyese bingu name. Mukuona ngati dzina amangopereka chipereke pereke eti? Mufuna maina apakati achina poferakwenje, ochakwera chamba chani?. Asafuna afuna bingu wa mutharika stadium khani yatha. Achina joyce banda mayina omaika pa shop. Zikomo

  44. Ikanakhala National Stadium basi not Bingu pambalipa
    on management we are very poor. chitivuta ichi kusamala. ngati ma cctv sikugwira ntchito ku state house ndiye mwati apa hmmmm

  45. Will the stadium be known as” Ngwazi Proffessor Dr Bingu wa Mutharika stadium”? By the time the name is fully pronounced, Someone will have drunk all his cocacola, or a car will have travelled atleast 5km. Why not just name it “National stadium” or “independence stadium” and do away with shrines.

  47. Bingu should be honoured for finding the donors to build the stadium. Moreover the stadium is for Malawi and Lilongwe is part of Malawi. Even if it was built in Nsanje there was no problem.

  48. Is it correct that when bingu died, billions of US dollars and other currency was found in suitcases in his palace, the same money that was supposed to be for the welfare of malawi and its citizens ? and now a national stadium bears his name like he is in the same league as Nelson Mandela or other humanitarian heroes ! The world is laughing .

  49. Abale, tili nayo kale Bingu International Conference center. It is enough. Why Bingu – Bingu again????? Alomwe inu!!!!

  51. I think to name the stadium after Bingu is the right thing to do,I agree with you ”above” for insinuating that China is building Stadiums all over Africa,
    somehow you’re devoid of reasoning the question you supposed to ask yourself is
    who came up with an Idea of chucking out Taiwans and bring in Chinese? the answer is Bingu` thereupon he’s getting the recognition he deserves,from whatever angle you can look at it you will see the finger is pointing at Bingu
    Almost all the Government structures and parastatals were named after Kamuzu(the dictator)
    Thanks to Atcheya the champion of democracy for bringing democracy in Malawi,if it was for Atcheya who knows maybe all our private properties would be named after him(The Ngwazi)

  54. Malawians and its thinking very sick thinking i will not call this stadium that name bola National Stadium

  55. Akuluakulu Bingu was the best strategic president Malawi has ever had. Anali munthu wowona patali. Why brame someone on Zero budget when u r all going there and u offer no alternative. This is the problem with Malawians always settling for mediocrity.

    The only crime Moya committed was to refuse to be a stogee of EU.

    There is no strategy your JB introduced to be worth praised apart from licking the boot of EU.

    The catholic church made the same blunder of sidelining one of the best contemplary theologian in the world by the name of Patrick Kalilombe who planned the future of the church almost 50 years ago and as is aklways the case with malawians settled for mediocrity in terms of bishops to guide them.

    One of the reason malawi is one of the poorest country in the world is because of this culture of settling of mediocrity.

  56. olo mutati bwampini kapena callista olo beam ata mulakho koma yamangidabwe ku lilongwe fotsekiii!

  57. Ikhale Ndata mpumulo wabata Stadium, chifukwa mkulu uja adaitenga kukaiika kwawo, ndiye Masten chifukwa chanzelu zosakondela kwawo adaipatsanso anthu aku LL, padalibe choletsa kukaika kwawo ku Zomba, ndiye dzina ili likufunika linzinveka kwambili konko ku T.Y, mchimodzimodzi munthu amene adakubaya mpeni sumafuna kumamuonanso chifukwa next time adzakuombela nfuti, even that university in T.Y was surposed to be along Salima Road, we all know this koma couild we do wina ataipanga misalocate? I have been in Thyolo u cant compare those mulakhoz and people from LL kuukonda mpila ayi, chibwana cha mchombo lende chenicheni, they are very good t womanising and proscution, so to name the Stadium under his name its total assasination and a Morkery to LL peaple, if so aply a name on the centre to apriciate the Late, so it must be Bingu mpumulo wabata Ndata Stadium. Kk.

  58. Bingu National Stadium? My foot. What had he done to Malawians. Moreover he wanted to be built in Ndata. Malawians, wakeup.

  59. It does not make sense that the new stadium and almost all Chinese projects that he initiated should bear his name. Malawians have not forgotten how Bingu moved the
    phenomenal project to his village before he died. Honoring him for such a project when he is not the one who brought it to Lilongwe is an insult. Give Dr Joyce Banda her dues
    for being unselfish and reversing the decision. Some good deeds you cannot just bury anyhow.

  60. Achewa mukufuna muyambe mwano ngati atumbuka? Mukanakhala ena mukayamika Bingu chifukwa anachita zambiri pakati kusiyana ndikumwera lero mukamati fwifwifwi muonanso.Mufune musafune. Ndi Bingu Stadium. Kodi kwanu sikuvina makanja basi…..

    1. Achewa mwano siukukuyenerani. Honestly Bingu did alot in Lilongwe than in Blantyre. Let us learn to be honest. Lilongwe yasukusula lero and ikuoneka bwino, ngakhale anthu ake ali otuwa, chifukwa cha Bingu. There was nothing that was done by Bingu in Blantyre. Good roads, a highway, hotel of international standard, Kamuzu Musoleum, Parliament, Stadium etc ndiye osamalalata ayi. Nyawu anazichotsa munsewu and cleaned it. For the first time a good road to Nchisi etc.

  61. Initiative alone can’t be a reason enough for naming the stadium. There can be some reasons, yes, but more importantly not that one.

  62. Bingu moved this stadium to Blantyre just as he did to MUST. I think this is a mockery to Lilongwe residents and others who wanted it to be centrally located

  63. naye uyo mukumutu minister of sports obama.why naming it without consulting amalawi tonse. mutiyesa ife zitsilu eti. there are so many names you could have named our stadium like hero stadium in honour of players like dzimbiri, dandize ndi ena ambiri. kuphangila basi. musatipangise kufuna ku kaguba chifukwa cha dzina la staduim. mudzafa imfa yowawa mwanva inu azinduna a pitala

  64. Why Not Muluzi National Stadium?, its time we start celebrating our heroe’s whilst they still breathing

  66. Bingu anangochita mwai kuti panthawi yomwe anatenga boma nkuti ma donors akukhululukila ngongole Maiko osauka komanso kuti ma Chinese(main land china)akafuna kuti tione phindu lothetsa ubale ndi Taiwan komano kunena zoona Bingu anali chindele osati cindele chabe Ai koma chindele chakufikapo .

  68. Bingu did not initiate the building of the staduim. China is building staduims all over Africa not only in Malawi. Stupid DPP government and its Minister of Sports are personalising infrastructure development as if we are still in dictatorship. Show us the money DPP government of Bingu used to construct the stadium? Dont take Malawians like fools.

  71. Remember we have, Kamuzu Palace, Kamuzu International Airport, Kamuzu Stadium, Kamuzu Procession Road, Kamuzu Bridge. Kamuzu Central Hospital, Kamuzu College of Nursing, Kamuzu Barracks and others. Why not with Bingu? Ntchito za manja ake zimuchitire umboni basi.

    Let’s we not politicize everything. Isn’t it good to honor somebody’s achievements. Let’s we all agree that Bingu tried his beautify the City of Lilongwe with important structures like roads, buildings and others. How I wish people of Lilongwe and the entire central region to be the first ones to applaud late Bingu and moreover all we wanted is a good and modern structure (stadium) like this one. The name itself do matter nothing to me.

    Even if it were to be constructed in Blanytyre, inakakhalabe ya a Malawi basi is Blantyre not in Malawi? We have Kamuzu stadium in Blantyre, does it benefit only those in Blantyre and Southern region? Politics by failed political morons in opposition camps.

    All in all, GOD Bless Malawi!!!!!!!!

  72. Bingu wa Mutharika was not a visionary leader as he brought Malawi to its knees by April 2012. Those who call him a visionary leader are blind DPP Supporters. As long as Malawians do not criticise their leaders including the President when they make blunders Malawi as one of the poorest countries in the world 50years after independence will continue to remain poor.

  73. The Reserve Bank about to be ready was also Bingu’s plan. So will it be named Bingu Reserve Bank. NB Hospital in its final stage was also initiated by Moya. Will be be known as Bingu Nkhata Bay District Hospital?

  74. Please give the stadium a neutral name. Let not use political figures names. Political figures come and go, but these neutral names shall remain.

    If we want the names of people like Bingu to remain amidst us, then history books are the right place for them.

  76. AMAYI WOYEEEEEE TINALI YANI BWEZI STADIUM YATHU YITAPITA KU NDATA WHY NAMING IT AFTER A SELFISH LEADER LIKE HIM ZONSE AMAFUNA ZIPITE KWAO WADYAPO

  78. My advise to Peter is that Bootlickers will always cheat even the most credible mind. Your Excellency, you know the politics that surrounded the construction of this stadium (place). Malawians will not cancel your endorsement to the proposed name BUT surely do you want it that way. As brother to Late Bingu do you want his name to be ridiculed all the time ? Please put more land mark developments and name one of them after Bingu let the stadium get a national name if JB ‘s name is a curse to Malawians.

  79. MAI JOYCE BANDA RELOCATED THE FACILITY TO CENTRE OF MALAWI,FROM THE JAWS OF THE GREEDY BINGU.CREDIT GOES TO JOYCE BANDA .I URGE ALL MALAWIANS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH WHAT MAI BANDA DID TO SUPPORT ME RIGHT HERE ONLINE ON NYASA TIMES.AS FOR ME I BELONG TO NO PARTY BUT LETS PLS REMEMBER MAI BANDA FOR HER RATIONAL DECISSION.BINGU HAS WHITE ELEPHANT BINGU NSANJE PORT.YES TO “JOYCEBANDA NATIONAL STADIUM!”.MPAMVU KWAIFE ANTU.

  80. Predictable. Even if you woke me up in the middle of the night id have guessed that thats the name that would b given…

  81. Was the nation consulted? Just call it Lilongwe Stadium to avoid the bakilis who may decide otherwise in futre!!!

  82. A deserving honour for a visionary, too many haters pa Malawi. It is my prayer that God gives you bastards a long life to witness the very many more massive development projects DPP has in the pipeline. Magani yanu Chakwera stadium ngati zikuwawani anyapapi inu.

  84. Just call it NATIONAL STADIUM.

    We already have BINGU CONFERENCE CENTRAL. Malawi has a population of over 16 million people , we should not have politicians trying to please their masters. For that stadium to be where it is built it was against Bingu’s idea. Let’s not go into details.
    He did his part , some were good and some were bad. Malawi was saved by his death.
    NATIONAL STADIUM , would be a neutral name , don’t go too much into pleasing a deadwood.

  85. Bingu Stadium no!but Lilongwe stadium ,ndikatoyesa mbuyache Bingu anati stadium yikatomangidwa ku Blantyre osati Lilongwe monga ma MP anagwiri zana ku Parliament ,kupanda Mai JB stadium bwenzi itamangidwa ku Ndata Thyolo .
    Tikupempha ma MP akakambilane za dzina la stadium ,ma cabinet ministers achuluka Chinyengo .We are in democracy let everybody have a say on naming of the stadium .

  86. No, it should still be Bingu Stadium because he is the one who brought that Idea to construct that facility. And in fact, the initiative was to be constructed in Blantyre not Lilongwe

  88. PLS CALL THIS “JOYCE BANDA NATIONAL STADIUM”. REASONS:(1) SHE RELOCATED THE NATIONAL STADIUM FROM THE GREEDY BINGU’S AREA TO THE CENTRE OF MALAWI.NOT ONLY TO THE CENTRE OF MALAWI BUT TO THE CAPITAL CITY . SECONDLY SHE LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE. THIRDLY ,BINGU ALREADY HAS “BINGU PORT OF NSANJE-white elephant”,AND BINGU COMFERENCE CENTRE. IT IS WE THE MALAWIANS WHO PUT UP A FIGHT AGAINST BINGU’S GREED AND MAMA JOYCE BANDA GAVE THE NOD AND LAID FOUNDATION STONE AT THE RIGHT PLACE BINGU HAD WANTED THE FACILITY TO BE AT HIS VILLAGE .PLS DO NOT HONOR GREED.VIVA,” JOYCE BANDA NATIONAL STADIUM!”.

  90. Is it really a national stadium or a DPP opportunist stadium? please do not complicate issues here.Bingu has no share in this issue however he is dead and it was his obligation to initiate these projects all in all he was on the MG payroll.With this mindset am afraid we are heading for disaster.We already have Bingu Conference Centre why no choose a neutral name instead of this politically motivated biased name.

  92. Bingu anatipanga nkhanza so we should not remember him with a national structure. Bola mukanati JB stadium poti ndiye anaikhazikitsa ku LL. Ya Bingu amange Pitala ku BT poti amati amanga in kutsata maloto a mkulu wake. Do we Hitler road in Germany?

  95. No problem to name the stadium Bingu but my appeal to Prof APM we need another stadium in Blantyre like the Emirates of Arsenal kkkkk.Am sure you are aware of this problem of stadium in BT and you will not let us down in your presence.In Prof APM and DPP,we trust.

  96. Better call it Joyce Banda International Stadium as she is the one who moved construction of the stadium from Blantyre to Lilongwe. It is better when it is in Lilongwe than when it was going to be in Soche kwa Manje.

  100. Koma Amalawi sitimamva. Cholinga cha ma Minister ndi kusangalatsa APM basi. Tinatopa nazo izi. Kodi ndimayesa a Bingu anafuna kuti Stadium ibwere ku Blantyre? Do not personalize ma national projects. Tawasiyani A Bingu apumule!

  102. I hear ministry of lands and sports on stadium management my heart drops none of those electronic gudgets will be functional in the first year. These government employees care less pliz subcontract a private company to manage this important national asset

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