Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) have written Zomba City Council (ZCC) on the delays to complete the construction of Zomba Stadium.

HRDC chairperson responsible for Eastern Region, Madalitso Banda, told YFM Online that as a human rights group, their core duty is to ensure that there is transparency and accountability from the duty bearers.

He said the period for the completion of rehabilitation and expansion of Zomba Stadium is overdue, thereby raising concerns from sports followers in the city on when the stadium will be completed.

“We felt duty-bound to stand for the people as they could not voice out their concerns for political fears. We have to take the lead in ensuring transparency and accountability of resources for the construction of Zomba Stadium,” he said.

“The period it has taken to construct the stadium from 2017 up to now shows that something is not adding up somewhere.”

Construction of Zomba Stadium started in 2017 in two phases. The first phase was supposed to finish in December 2017 with the second one a year later. A visit to the site shows that only the hall has been rehabilitated.

In this regard, HRDC says it has written ZCC requesting for a meeting together with the constructor – DEC Construction Company. When completed, Zomba Stadium will have the capacity of 20,000 people.

One of the concerned citizens, Chisomo Malapula, said the promotion of Red Lions to the TNM Super League, means that Zomba Stadium was supposed to be available as home ground.