MCP, PP against naming stadium after Bingu
The opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the People’s Party (PP) on Saturday took turns slamming the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government for naming the state-of-the-art stadium currently under construction in Lilongwe as Bingu National Stadium.
According to Youth and Sports Minister Grace Chiumia, the decision to name the Chinese-funded 40 000-seater facility was arrived at a Cabinet meeting.
She said the name was given in honour of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika who initiated the project.
But speaking in an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times, MCP Publicity Secretary Dr Jessie Kabwira accused DPP of naming the stadium without consulting Malawians.
“There was need for the government to consult widely than just imposing a name on Malawians,” Kabwira said.
She accused DPP of doing cheap politics with national facilities.
PP Publicity Secretary Ken Msonda argued that government would have established the committee which could have been consulting Malawians and give recommendations to the President to avoid renaming the national assets in future.
However, DPP spokesman Francis Kasaira trashed the accusations by the opposition MCP and the PP.
Kasaira said MCP and PP do not know what they are talking about.
“Does it make any sense that naming a national asset can mean campaigning? The reason why the cabinet made the decision to name the stadium after Bingu wa Mutharika is that he was the one who initiated this project and Cabinet felt it wise and proper to name it in his honour, “said Kasaira.
University of Malawi political science professor Blessings Chinsinga said there is no problem naming the national asset under a former president such as Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, named after founding president, late Ngwazi Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
Another commentator from University of Malawi, Dr Mustafa Hussein said while there is nothing wrong on the matter, wider consultations should have been carried to allow Malawians to give their views on the issue.
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Kumamvesesa bwino nkhani musanakomente anyani inu, moti ankhutukumve inu mwamvapo zoti akukana dzina la Bingulo, zikungofunika kumawapanga consult a Malawi potchula dzina osati mwawokha ayi.
Just useless noise,what if we call it Joyce Banda stadium,does it make sense?Bingu initiated it,why not muluzi snr? Bingu had clourful dreams,if u argue go read his book,African dreams from poverty to prosperity,then u will known Bingu wamutharika big man,not bigmouth kabwira msonda,short sighted. Shut up,know when to speak.
That is a great achievement, by giving example to upcoming leaders, congratulations
But you know, this will encourage the next leaders to facilitate big projects in order to be named after them. I know Chakwera will do more than this in the next term. There is no case in this matter. But Malawians should always be consulted. Ana a kutsogolo azizdziwa mizwanya ya ma president amene anapanga zakupsya.
Amalawi nkhani ya ndale tizipasana po ulemu apa. A MCP mulibe manyazi munazunza anthu muno ndipo ineyo amalawi kuzangochita Tsoka kuti anthu awa akuphani atenga boma izakhala mistake yoopsa. Anthu oipa awa ife abale athu anachoka muno chifukwa cha nkhaza za MCP. Ma cousin athu up to now amakana kuzaponda ku Mw chifukwa cha anthu oipa a jealous. Inu amene Muli ana muziwafusa bwino makolo anu za chipani chimenechi. It is a big shame kuti achinyamata ena osamba bwinobwino amakakamira MCP ati chifukwa makolo awo ndi or anali a MCP or anapanga benefit ndalama za makadi. Mumangosobyeza umbuli to associate… Read more »
Imeneyi ikhale John Chilembwe national stadium osati bingu ayi . cabinet yaku Malawi singatsutse zimenezi chifukwa aliyense amapembedza unduna kuti usathe.
even if u go and ask ZBS already asked ppo’s views majority chosed de late Bingu,it its not asurprise just bcoz Bingu ws de one who initiated de devpment osamangosusa bcoz ndinu a opposition mwamva akanyapwa inu?
Asafune akhale it will b BINGU NATIONITIONAL STADIUM in area 48,LL.
Ntchito za president aliyense zizimuchitira umboni. Dzinalo likhale lomwelo!
I think we Malawians like arguments. Where there is no cause for arguments, we deliberately create one. One sure way of doing this is to name national assets after political figures. Why can’t we give such structures any one of the thousands of neutral names around? Cholinga? Kuti timve enawo anena chiyani, si choncho? Then when another political party comes to power, the name will be changed to that of another expired political figure. The problem is that in Malawi, the country belongs to politicians, especially the ruling party of the day. The rest of us are simply luggage carried… Read more »