Minister of Toourism Vera Kamtukule has come out of her cocoon to defend her statement in Parliament where she claimed that money amounting to MK20 billion to place a visit Malawi advert on English Premier Team’s jersey.
Kamtukule said this when responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Kasungu North, Mike Bango, who sought an update on plans to advertise Malawi on Jerseys for teams in Spainsh football as other countries such as Rwanda do with English Premier League teams.
The claims by the Minister has attracted backlash from many Malawians and some have taken to social media to vent their anger.
But in what can be described as clarification, Kamtukule said: “During my address, I was asked by Hon Mike Bango about the possibility of partnering with an English Premier League club to market Malawi as a premier tourist destination. I want to be clear: this is not outside the realm of possibility.
“In fact, it is a fascinating idea with potential benefits. However, I emphasized that such a partnership comes with a substantial financial cost, estimated at around 20 billion kwacha. This is not a simple undertaking, and it is my duty to consider the realities of our budget and the best use of our resources.”
She added: “That being said, we are not limited by what we cannot do. We have a wealth of low-hanging fruits—strategies that are cost-effective and can immediately elevate Malawi’s profile both locally and globally.
“We are actively pursuing partnerships within the region and leveraging digital platforms to showcase our beautiful country. Our approach is dynamic, and we are committed to making Malawi a must-visit destination on the world map. Let us focus on what we can achieve together, and rest assured, our strategy is both ambitious and grounded in reality.”
