The capacity of Zomba Stadium to be reduced

The seven-year-old Zomba Stadium project may not be concluded in time to be a modern structure suitable for an emerging city facility. According to DEC Contractors, the stadium’s capacity has decreased from 20,000 to 8,000. This is as a result of financial issues and public pressure to complete the construction.

Following a complaint from a group identifying itself as Zomba Sports Lovers, DEC Construction managing director Daniel Charlie revealed this during a meeting with Zomba City mayor Davie Maunde.

He said that they were expected to complete the construction works this year. The work is still incomplete since they didn’t receive any funding. Due to the public outcry demanding that the stadium be completed, they chose to reduce the capacity.

In addition, he stated that inflation and vandalism, among other issues, have driven up the cost of the project.

Zomba Stadium project’s initial budget

The project had a K4 billion initial budget. The decision to lower the facility’s capacity, according to Rajabu Namalaka, coordinator of Zomba Concerned Sports Lovers, has them worried.

However, he stated that they have no choice, provided it is built and ready by April of next year.

The mayor of Zomba City, Maunde, assured the group that he would work with the Ministry of Local Government to secure funding for the project’s completion.

The stadium’s completion date has been delayed owing to a revision in the original plan. The revisions are supposed to make it a contemporary sports facility complete with a running track. It will also have basketball, volleyball, netball, and indoor sport courts, among others.

During a meeting with councilors and secretariat employees at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre in 2021, President Lazarus Chakwera also asked the Zomba City Council to complete the project.

However, the directive was merely political rhetoric since it wasn’t accompanied by action.

Zomba Stadium project was redesigned to match Thyolo Stadium, which is currently under construction. The stadium is taking shape as one of the more modern structures.

Due to the stadium’s delay, Zomba football clubs, specifically the Red Lions, have been forced to play at Balaka, Mangochi, and Mpira grounds, which has financial implications.

Reported in July 2020

Zomba Stadium construction in Malawi to take longer than expected

Construction of a stadium in the city of Zomba in Malawi will not be completed on October 5th as expected as only 30% of the work has been completed so far.

The project was faced by financial problems initially before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and made matters worse. At the moment, the community hall and the VIP stand have been completed and the contractor is now working on open stands.

Also Read: Angola’s Tundavala Stadium face-lift to be complete by September

Works are continuing slowly

According to the Public Relations Officer for Zomba City Council, Mercy Chaluma, the project has been facing a number of hiccups. First it was the issue of finances, then the design had to be changed and later the contractor removed working equipment and workers when the issue of Covid-19 surfaced.

“But later it was resolved that work can continue but with measures put in place to prevent the Coronavirus. This meant that the contractor had to reduce the workforce and so the work is being done very slowly but surely it will come to an end,” said Chaluma.

Reported in December 2020

Construction of Zomba stadium in Malawi on course

Construction of Zomba stadium in Malawi is on course. President Lazarus Chakwera has urged Zomba City Council (ZCC) and Ministry of Local Government to complete the construction as soon as possible. “I want that stadium completed so that one day I can watch a match there,” said Chakwera.

DEC Construction Limited started the project back in 2017 but it has faced financial problems throughout which was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. This made the project miss its October 2020 deadline. Currently, the community hall and the VIP stand have been completed and the contractor is now working on open stands.

Also Read: Construction of US $131,884 mini-stadium in Kafuta village, Gambia begins

Slow pace construction

According to the Public Relations Officer for ZCC, Mercy Chaluma, the design of the Zomba stadium had to be changed and later the contractor removed working equipment and workers when the issue of COVID-19 surfaced. “It was later resolved that work can continue under the measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This meant that the contractor had to reduce the workforce and so the work is being done very slowly but surely it will come to an end,” said Chaluma.

The president also noted that Zomba City, the former capital, used to be one of the best cities in Malawi and, because of its history, the council should find means of economically developing other than relying on funds from the Central Government.

The government also plans to build a modern stadium in Mzuzu which will be located in the Mzuzu Youth Centre project. On June 30th 2020, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) gave the sports ministry a go ahead to award a contract for the construction of the youth centre in Katoto Township. The project is expected to cost US $25.7m.

Reported on April 2022

Zomba Stadium in Malawi Set to Open in July this Year

Zomba City Mayor Councilor Davie Maunde has stated that the Zomba Stadium in Malawi will be ready for usage in July this current year. Councilor Maunde underlined his confidence during a tour of the Zomba Stadium, saying he was delighted with the contractor’s pace and craftsmanship despite several financial problems ranging from delayed government payments to Covid-19 work limitations.

He stated that the government has assured the Zomba City Council that it would complete the project as soon as possible and that he, as mayor, will closely supervise the project to guarantee that it is completed by July. He noted that the Super League Red Lions had been refused the use of the stadium as a home venue and that the team now plays in Balaka Stadium.

Also Read: Marka-Bangula Railway Project Contract Awarded, Malawi

Mayamiko Kabango, Chief Engineer of Zomba City Council, stated that the building of the Zomba Stadium is nearing completion, despite the fact that the contractors encountered various hurdles, such as delayed payments.

Zomba Stadium’s Completion

Kabango stated that the Zomba City Council agreed with the contractor to allow the stadium for usage, despite the stadium’s third phase having not yet been completed. The construction on the part of the stands and the VIP area would be completed by the planned opening month of July, according to the Chief Engineer. Kabango stated that if not for the Covid-19 epidemic, financial constraints, and frequent high rains, the project, which began in 2017, would have been completed by October 2021.

lgnacio Ngoma Jr, an engineer with DEC Building Company, claimed the construction of the Zomba Stadium had been delayed due to repeated high rains following hurricanes Anna and Gombe and delayed payments from the government. He did, however, express hope that the second portion of the project would be done by July, adding that soccer fans could expect to see teams play by that time. Ngoma stated that DEC Construction Company was nearing completion of netball, basketball, and volleyball courts and a jogging track.

The construction of Zomba Stadium began in 2017 and has taken five years, depriving citizens in Zomba and surrounding areas of the opportunity to witness Super League matches. The Zomba Stadium is planned to hold 20,000 people.

https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/zomba-stadium-construction-in-malawi-to-take-longer-than-expected/

https://constructionreviewonline.com/news/zomba-stadium-in-malawi-set-to-open-in-july-this-year/