Government has finally handed over to the contractor the site where it is going to construct a stadium in Karonga District which will cost about K504 million from Local Development Fund.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Director of Urban Development in the Local Development Fund (LDF) which is under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mike Moyo, said government wants to promote sports in the country through infrastructure development.

The site for the stadium is at Baka Research Station in the area of Traditional Authority Kyungu and was handed over to Nangaunozge Building Contractor who will construct the stadium.

Moyo said the stadium, which will have a capacity of 20, 000 people, is expected to cost K504 million from Local Development Fund.

Despite producing quality players and competitive teams, Karonga District does not have a stadium and games are played on an open ground.

Construction of the stadium is expected to start on October 15 this year and that it is expected to run for four years before it is completed.

In his remarks, Director of Administration for Karonga District Council, James Tembo, said the stadium will help the council to boost revenue collection through gate fees in addition to motivating both players and spectators.

“As a council, we feel that this is a great opportunity in a way because the stadium will help us to source money and be able to do some developments with gate collections.

“Apart from financial gains, the stadium will also help our youths to improve their physical fitness through different games that would be played, and in so doing, they will have no time to indulge in bad behaviour,” said Tembo.mana