CDEDI on Chakwera’s neck over Mk9.4 Swimming Pool project

Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has attacked President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s administration over the Mk9.4 billion state of the art Swimming Pool project.

The attacks follow an advert which was circulated in one of the local daily-papers last week informing Malawians of the government’s decision to award a contract to certain company to construct the said swimming pool.

In a statement released today CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has questioned the rationale behind the construction of the said swimming pool.

“The Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has learnt with shock reports that the Malawi Government through the sports ministry intends to construct a MK9. 4 billion world class swimming pool.

“CDEDI would like to remind President Lazarus Chakwera that Malawi is currently faced with a number of challenges in the health, education and economic sectors. It is, therefore, unimaginable for the country to spend such amounts on a luxurious sports complex, which shall soon become a white elephant, and a drain for our hard earned taxes when time for maintainance works arrive,” said Namiwa.

He added: “CDEDI and indeed many Malawians of good will believe the swimming pool is not a priority area to invest in at this material time when the nation is also grappling with unprecedented suicide cases among the youths.

“It is uncalled for, for a well meaning leader, to invest such a colossal amount in a project that will benefit a few when the same government is elusive on the future of the one million jobs the youth were promised; when the country’s cities and towns have bad road networks; and when the health and education systems are falling apart.”

Namiwa has since accused Minister of Youth and sports Ulemu Msungama of ill advising Chakwera.

“It is against this background that CDEDI believes that the current Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Ulemu Msungama, is giving Chakwera wrong advice.

“Malawi does not need a world class swimming pools as Msungama wants both the president and the voters to believe. We need facilities like the St John of God’s center that should provide sporting, counseling and guidance to our youths,” he said.

Namiwa has since asked Chakwera to suspend the project.

Effort to talk to Minister of Information Gospel Kazako proved futile.