Govt plans creating an authority to manage national stadia

Government is considering setting up a sports authority to manage modern national stadiums that are being constructed in the country.

Deputy Minister of Sports Christopher Mulenga disclosed this when he inspected the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka today.

The National Heroes Stadium has been built at a cost of K500 million.

Mulenga said government has embarked on an ambitious programme of stadia construction and by the end of 2015, there will be five modern stadia in the country.

“We need to have an authority to look after all the stadia and run them. There is Ndola and Lusaka, and there will be Mongu, Livingstone and Luapula stadiums. I only hope they will not be vandalized,” he said.

He declared the 50,000 seater National Heroes Stadium ready and quipped for local and international games.

He said he was anxious to have the stadium used for a soccer match as early as possible.

Mulenga said he was impressed with the completed stadium and very happy with the works that the Chinese contractor has done as specified in the contact.

The deputy minister of sports said the contractor would soon complete the paving and walk way roads around the stadium before it is handed over next month.

He said the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) had already installed power while the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company will finalise the water reticulation system at the stadium in the next two weeks.

Mulenga further said the Road Development Agency (RDA) will upgrade the Great North Road into a dual carriage way and build a fly over bridge at its intersection with Kasangula road to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

He said facilities such as the National Heroes Stadium were important in that the completed stadium will consolidate and enhance Zambia’s chances to host the 2019 Africa Cup.

“We have a team from CAF and FIFA who are coming to assess our sports facilities and such facilities are important to us as they will ensure that we consolidate our chances of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup,” said Mulenga.

Mulenga said government’s intentions in its vision 2030 are to have modern stadia in all the ten provincial centres.