Blantyre City South legislator Noel Lipipa and his Kasungu North counterpart Mike Bango on Monday clashed in Parliament over the progress of Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers stadia in Blantyre.
Making his contribution to President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) monitored on MBC TV, Bango, a renowned former sports journalist, thanked the President for the progress of the two projects which he said are nearing completion.
But standing on a point of order, Lipipa, who is also a Bullets board member, accused Bango of “telling the House lies”.
He said: “Madam Speaker, is it in order for the member of Kasungu North to lie in this House that the Tonse Alliance is continuing with the construction of Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers stadia when we know the reality on the ground is that they halted those two projects?
“I think he must withdraw that statement because it is actually a lie.”
In response, Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara said it is important for members to get facts right before presenting issues in the House “to avoid misleading the public”.
In an interview yesterday, Lipipa said he responded to Bango’s contribution because the two projects are in his constituency.
He said: “I visited the projects only last week and there have been no works for over one-and-a half years.
“But if they want to continue, then it will be commendable because these facilities will be owned by government through Sports Council and the two teams will just be managing them. As such, government will also be getting revenue.”
On his part, Bango insisted in an interview yesterday that it was the current government that started the two projects.
“So, yes, the projects might have stalled, but the commitment to complete them is still there,” he said.
Two weeks ago, Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire said the projects will be finalised by the end of the year.
Bullets Stadium is located in Zingwangwa Towniship near Moneymen Sports Club along Chikwawa Road and was estimated to cost K3.8 billion while the Nomads Stadium is located in Soche near Blantyre Teacher Training College and was estimated at K3.6 billion.
Former president Peter Mutharika launched the projects during the 2019 presidential election campaign.
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