LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkhata Bay Central, Vuwa Kaunda, has announced that the long-awaited construction of a modern stadium in the district will finally commence following the allocation of K5 billion for development projects in the constituency.
In an interview with Maravi Post Online on Sunday, Kaunda said the funding will support not only the stadium project but also address long-standing infrastructure challenges, with implementation expected to begin on 1 April.
Kaunda disclosed that the Nkhata Bay District Council previously contributed MK100 million towards the development of Maganga Community Ground, which was used to construct a perimeter fence.
The funds were sourced from the District Development Fund (DDF) for the 2024/2025 financial year, and the ground is now fully fenced.
“Five billion kwacha is more than enough to construct the stadium, tarmac roads around Nkhata Bay Centre, and extend electricity to underserved areas,” Kaunda said. “We are also working on improving road links between the centre and existing tarmac roads.”
The stadium project has been one of Kaunda’s flagship development priorities over the past five years.
He has consistently argued that the absence of proper sports infrastructure in Nkhata Bay limits youth participation in sports and hinders talent development.
According to Kaunda, the existing community ground has already made a positive impact.
Youth teams regularly use the facility for football matches, while the District Council generates revenue through gate collections when major teams such as Moyale Barracks play friendly matches in the area.
“The ground is helping our youth stay engaged in sports, and at the same time it is generating income for the District Council,” he said.
Kaunda noted that the lack of a standard stadium has forced local teams to travel long distances to compete, a situation he believes discourages young athletes and slows sports development in the lakeshore district.
Beyond sports infrastructure, the legislator has repeatedly raised concerns in Parliament and public forums about poor road networks, limited electricity access, and inadequate economic infrastructure in Nkhata Bay Central.
He has argued that improving access roads is critical to boosting tourism, trade, and fishing-related businesses, given the district’s strategic location along Lake Malawi.
Residents have long complained that poor infrastructure has slowed development, despite the district’s strong tourism potential.
Kaunda said the projects will be implemented in phases to ensure transparency, accountability, and quality delivery.
“We want to do this properly so that the people of Nkhata Bay get lasting development,” he said.
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