August 23, 2010
It is two years now after the demise of Zambia’s third republican President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa. The man who was a champion crusader against corruption had no concern for crooks or criminals. In remembering the late State Counsel, Zambianfootball.net’s Musonda ‘Ba Muzo’ Chibulu last week took time to have a look around at the National Stadium being constructed in Ndola by the Chinese, a part of Levy’s legacy and brought some pictures.
The stadium western stand is complete whilst works on the opposite stand have gathered momentum with the picturesque piece of architecture set for completion in October 2011.
The dragons on the gate
A cross section of Ndola residents have expressed concern at the sight of dragons at the entrance of the stadium which they say do not bode well with the declaration of Zambia as Christian nation as Dragons are worshiped in some religions foreign to Zambia.
Zambian Workers get K1000-K1500 per hour
The Zambian workers involved in the construction of the stadium earn about K1000-k1500 per hour for the 8-9 hours and released at lunch to fend for themselves.
Answering the call of nature while standing
At the western end of the stadium Zambian workers can be seen in an open air pit latrine answering the call of nature while standing on planks that act as support for the human body while human excreta provide an unwelcome greeting to any passer- by, if anybody bothered to venture that far like I did.
Name suggestion
In earnest I suggest that the Ndola Stadium be named the Levy Patrick Mwanawasa National Stadium in remembrance of that visionary and instead of the Dragons a monument in honour of the late President be erected there.
Afterall, it was his idea that the stadium be constructed in Ndola nad sought the Chinese grant. Can that be too much to ask?
More photos will be posted to support the article…
45 Comments on "Levy’s legacy: The Ndola National Stadium under construction."
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Logic on Mon, 23rd Aug 2010 9:03 PM
Slave wages
kk11 on Mon, 23rd Aug 2010 10:47 PM
If there is to be a name for the Stadium it should be for the KK11 team that passed away. Name it The KK11 memorial stadium, they need to be immortalised before any politician is. No disrespect to the late President but i am sure there will be other instances or structures built in his rememberance. In regards to our national pastime the stadium being built in Ndola should be in honour of our late heroes period!
MartyUSA on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:47 AM
Wait a second. Are you complaining that the Chinese agreed to build at our construction bid? Or are you complaining that they offered Zambians work? Or are we just complaining because we are Zambian and nothing pleases US.
Gerogia Russia on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:57 AM
i seriously think the logo represents the construction company itself and perhaps after they are done with the construction,they will have it removed,,the Ndola residents should just wait for the stadium to be completed other than them complaining when their govt has failed to construct a stadium….
lets wait for the Chinese to finish up their work other than us being negative and finding petty faults
Ba Muzo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 7:44 AM
In other words the ‘LPM’ stadium.
muzo master on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 7:50 AM
WE HEARD THE RECONSTRUCTION OF INDEPENDENCE STADIUM WILL COMMENCE BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE CONTRACTOR ON SITE AS PURPOTED BY HON MULONGOTI SHED MORE LIGHT
muzo master on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 7:52 AM
BAMUZO KINDLY GIVE US DETAILS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT INDEPENDENCE STADIUM MAY I DID NOT LISTEN OR READ PROPERLY I WILL BE GRATEFUL
Ba Muzo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 7:55 AM
I laugh at the previous comment attributed to me which I did not post. Anyhow, it sounds good to me, LPM National Stadium. KK11 let someone else build in Lusaka and then name the to be built stadium after the heroes. If there was no President Mwanawasa, I doubt the Ndola Stadium would have got underway. I agree with George Russia that the dragons should certainly be removed when construction is complete. By the way George Russia, government through the late President facilitated this and followed it through. Otherwise, AFEEC is doing a great job in the actual construction. I hope the engineers will sort out the pictures soon on the site on the stadium so that we have a better view of things.
Ba Muzo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 8:03 AM
@Muzo master, nothing yet but rhetoric still ringing in our ears on Independence Stadium reconstruction. I shall undertake to find out from the Minister or Ministry concerned with the issued statement what the encumbrances are or the true position.
Anonymous on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 8:05 AM
Chibuku, chamba, thieves imorality , insullts etc whats so chritain about them?. We have moslems all over whats Chritian about them…Dragons are just pictures on the wall no difference to a shake shake advert in the stadium.
chiti chitundu on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 8:28 AM
i think its should be named the april 28 stadium in memory of the fallen heroes.
Mabbwana on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 8:45 AM
I don’t really mind the name, all am happy about is that these guys are doing a good job.
Its not so much of a pleasant site seeing those dragons at the gate. I agree with Muzo, they should be removed. It would be good to have ‘the Zambia / China co-operation’ emblem unlike those dragons which hardly mean anything to the ordinary Zambian.
Coming to the conditions of service, thats pathetic.
jc on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 9:07 AM
Muzo master, you will recall that recently when the deputy consellor of china was in the country last month, the Government signed a framework agreement for a concessional loan of US $96 million for the Lusaka Stadium. This is the first major step, to secure financing. Now that financing has been secured, you dont just move on site and start construction. There is some preparatory work that has to be undertaken including designs, tests, etc. Remember the Ndola stadium, it took a while before the engineers moved on site. So be patient, things will gradually pick up and it will be another big project, mind you it is gouing to be bigger than Ndola stadium.
Jojo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 9:15 AM
I would’nt name it after a politician,yes the late president was behind the idea of a stadium being built in ndola but the man was just doing his job,just as its a presidents job to build schools,hospitals,roads etc..are we going to name every clinic that is built after the politician that is behind it??
Jojo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 9:27 AM
I like the idea of the April 28 stadium…or we can even name it after Denns Liwewe..
Ba Muzo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 9:28 AM
@jc, we were informed contractors would move on site at Independence Stadium the following week after the statement. It is not us suggesting that, it was reportedly said by Minister Mulongoti.
@ Jojo, in Ivory Coast, there is Felix Houphet Boigny Stadium and many other countries too. Yes, he was doing a job. But he is gone. And he went as President, so it will be a way of honouring his contribution to this country. If I was President, I would certainly name it after the departed President. Legacies are about building not stealing!
jc on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 9:42 AM
Yes Ba Muzo, what i have told you is what logically makes sense
Chilombo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 10:00 AM
THE DRAGONS AT THE THE GATE, IS NOT THE GATE TOTHE STADIUM NOOOOO!!!!. THAT SYMBOL IS THE COMPANY LOGO! IS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIANITY OR THE CHRISTIAN NATION. AFTER ALL, FROM WHERE THE DRAGONS ARE SITUATED, THAT IS NOT THE POSITION EARMARKED FOR THE MAIN GATE. The question of naming the stadium was answered by Mwanawasa before he died, I remember him saying the Luapula bridge and the stadium in Ndola will be my legacy, and i agree. let it be known as the Levy Mwanawasa stadium. May his soul rest in peace.
Chilombo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 10:16 AM
Talking about slave wages makes funny reading. On average Security Companies pay Zambian workers far less than the Chinese. It is common knowledge security guards get as low as K 120,000.00 per month to about K200,000.00 at the most. Most of those workers at the stadium construction site are casuals. The problem is you see a spec in Chinese eyes but conveniently miss the log in the Zambian employers eyes. Give credit where it is due. The Chinese deserve credit for putting up a world class stadium where we failed for 40 years!
Naming a stadium after KK, well, we shall after he is also gone.
song on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 10:24 AM
i dont think we should name it after Dr Mwanawasa but maybe after the fallen heroes… ba muzo, sorry to say this. i feel your article missed the point, it deserves to be in the post newspaper but not on a soccer site. you bringing up wage issues and toilet issues is not relevant to this site, i advise that you re-write it and focus on the soccer view rather than dragons which is sumthing very trivial.. non the less a very informative article.
UBUBI SANA Says........ on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 11:00 AM
Guys l suggest we it August 19th which marks LPM’s anniversary it sounds good. or if we can lets say April 28th stadium which equally marks our fallen heroes . How about that ……?
UBUBI SANA Says........ on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 11:01 AM
Guys l suggest we give it August 19th which marks LPM’s anniversary it sounds good. or if we can lets say April 28th stadium which equally marks our fallen heroes . How about that ……?
G,M on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 12:03 PM
LETS REMEMBER LEVY BY NAMING THE STADIUM IS NAME.
Justice Kafusha on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 12:04 PM
@ba Muzo thanks for the updates about the stadium
joezambian on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 12:28 PM
Hi guys am new in the “house”, i hope am welcome, am not sure naming the staduim after mwanawasa is a good one,,,maybe lets call it ndola internation staduim or a name that is associated with ndola town.
otherwise we’ll just now have FTJ staduim, RB staduim,,,just like we had KK11…i think lets leave out the political view, much as it is levy legacy,,on a higher level its supposed to zambian people’s legacy
Vusa on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 1:52 PM
We will call the stadium picturesque, when it is completed and looks picturesque; at the moment its is just some structure under contruction. I think it is pure sentimentality to describe the stadium under construction as Mwanawasa’s legacy. That is a legacy of the Zambian people who will pay for that stadium for generations to come to the Chinese. I agree with Chiti Chitundu that perhaps April 28 National Stadium is a more appropriate name than that of a politician. Finally, about the dragons. I think what Ba Muzo is raising a storm in a tea -cup; symbols are open to all sorts of interpretations; besides, Zambia is not a christian nation! There is nothing in the constitution to that effect…but perhaps this is a debate for other forums.
Shi Chamar on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:05 PM
@Joezambian, welcome to the house!
Seen from afar on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:06 PM
Joezambian, everyone is welcome to the blog so welcome!
I wouldn’t be too concerned about the the dragons, they are there to ward off evil spirits as always in Chinese culture. As has been said probably once the stadium is finished they shall be removed. Maybe there is a clash of cultures there, if they have to stay maybe lions will be smarter balance and they don’t even have to take prominence.
It’s just amazing to see those giant stands sticking out the ground on Zambian soil! But it also makes me wonder what the cost is to Zambia. I understand those workers are getting paid peanuts, and my thinking is that they are doing a super service to nation, it’s a couple of years perhaps suffering out their life but it will be VERY worthwhile! They are true national heroes!
Ba Muzo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:29 PM
@ Justice, welcome, just you alone can be worth the trouble of going all the way from Lusaka to bring the pix of the stadium. Itsa pity not more have been downloaded yet to accompany the article.
@Vusa, picuresque even now, but granted more so once completed. In football, there is vodoo and omen. Octopus Paul? The dragons will never be a cup of tea for some Zambians were they to remain at the entrance of the stadium however their interpretation. You will notice apart from the name suggestion, I have not given my opinion on all the issues in the article. Sentiment or not, Dr Mwanawasa deserves honour, I live here. I know what he was about from close quarters. People have been singing about pathetic infrastructure here in Zambia to the detriment of our sport. Only he stood up! Credit where it is due. If it was done to Zambians alone, this country would have ALREADY hosted a major international tournament such as the Africa Cup with proper venues rather play in the dust grounds (grazing grounds Renard called Konkola) we call stadiums (kwati chiponbwa!). Watch the SS LIVE GAMES! If its the Zambians legacy, then lets get loans and build 3 more good stadia. Honestly, Vusa you make laugh. Personally, I have no problems with politicians if they DO what they SAY!
Sibs on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:30 PM
@KK11 i wouldn’t name the stadium KK11 because the original Dag Stadium in Ndola was demolished by KK and his government. It not logical to call it KK11 when the man in question was responsible of bringing down the only proper stadium in Ndola. Some other name but not KK11. Nothing personal.
Ba Muzo on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 2:42 PM
By the way, the Independence Stadium was built as a temporal structure for the Independence celebrations we understand. Nobody has managed to build any worthwhile stadium in 44 years of self-rule. Dag was destroyed. Where is it? Independence Stadium was demolished and we have been fed sugar coated stories for over 2 years now.
Uzzi on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 4:44 PM
I agree with Sibs aswel..hey people lets be factual here,no president will run this country using his own money but all what we do as citizens is to elect one that we feel can manage our resources well and this is what Levy P. Mwanawasa did. Others built schools in the past using our resources and have their names on them, WHY should we take away this from this gallant man who negotiated for this wonderful thing that we have waited for long as Zambians..It will encourage others to work hard and build structures to set their legacies on..But if they will just be busy flying around!!! Come next year we want to watch our national team at the Levy.P.Mwanawasa national Stadium.
Magic on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 5:30 PM
April 28 makes much more sense to me than anything to do with Mwanawasa. No disrepect to the late but this was not solely his “vision”. Furthermore, that could be viewed as a partisan move. The April 28 name is politically neutral yet historical significant. It is at the very heart of Zambian football. In FOOTBALLING terms anything to do with Mwanawasa (MHRIP) pales in comparison to that poignant day (April 28) in WORLD FOOTBALL HISTORY. Every Zambian soccer fan can identify with the April 28 disaster, whether the same can be said about past presidents and politicians, I don’t know.
As for Ba Muzo’s comments on the other things that are going on at the site such as low wages and people relieving themselves in the open, I think we should be fair. The practices you mention are nothing new in Zambia. Rather than have a swipe at the Chinese who are following the old adage “when in Rome…” I think we should look at the laws in our country. If what they are doing is permissible by our labour and construction laws, then tough. They are not philanthropist. As much as they are communists, they have mastered one key concept of capitalism – profit margins. They will cut as many corners as is legally possible to increase their profit margin so you see where the loop hole is – the laws of the land in which they operate! So the issues you raise are valid but put them in their proper context.
Magic on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 5:39 PM
Haha, I find the issues of the Dragons laughable. They are at the gate to the construction site and are not a feature of the stadium design. How can that be a serious issue. They are Chinese restaurants scattered all over our cities and towns and we have no qualms frequenting them and enjoying dishes whose origins would probably make our insides turn if we did some gastronomical research. We should be careful how we make religious excuses. We had big parties here in Zambia for the Eclipse yet no one raised their eye brows at the “evil” practices that have been attached to such phenomena. Let us be realistic. If we start clutching at straws we will never make progress. As long as they are not forcing Zambians to bow down in front of dragons that is fine.
Logic on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 6:27 PM
The way some of you guys talk makes it sound like the Chinese are building this Stadium for free. As far as I know the we are paying for this facility or we will in the future. For all I care this Stadium could have been built by any other Nationality with the capability so we should not make it sound like these guys are doing us a favor. And just cause security guards make 120 pin a month does not make it right for the Chinese to pay peanuts. It’s this type of mentality that makes this exploitative behavior persist in our country. We have guys taking a dump in the open at this site and we can do is heap praises on the Chinese. Surely would building a few toilet facilities have taken anything away from this project. C’mon fellas, even laborers deserve some dignity.
Gametime12 on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 8:17 PM
The stadium is not done yet, so I suggest we hold on to those names until the stadium nears its completion. This is Zambia bane…….You’ll be left with a blueprint to a stadium without an actual stadium.
Ba Muzo on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 7:49 AM
@Magic, am surprised that you dont see any wrong in low wages and failing to secure even mobile toilets at the site because it is Zambian to have such appalling happenings due to non enforcement of appropriate laws! On the other hand, I do not think that a President is a partisan figure. Particularly a President who works to better Zambia and dies serving. Never mind the party he/she represents, a President is national, my friend. @Gametime 12, the stadium will be complete and nothing wrong to organise an umbrella before the onset of the rains..Actually the debate on the name can begin now and even naming bids and reasons.
Magic on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 9:13 AM
@ Ba Muzo, on the contrary, I see the wrong in low wages and poor sanitation. That is not the issue I am contesting. @ Logic raised the issue of dignity and you take the same slant. I agree with the both of you. What I disagree with is lumping the blame on the Chinese and vilifying them. We as Zambians should be the gate keepers of our dignity. The laws and regulations of Zambia should make it mandatory to have toilet facilities on a construction site. If the law exists, then take the Chinese to task. If the Chinese are paying in accordance with Zambian labour regulations then where is the problem? The Chinese or Zambian regulations (or lack thereof)? We provide the frame work within which anyone that wants to do business in Zambia will operate. If that frame work is flimsy we shouldn’t turn around and cry about the operators, we should rethink and reinforce our framework.
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 10:43 AM
@ Magic, that could’t have been said any better, if the laws were in place the chinese would have had to follow through so we cant blame them for doing what the romans do, they are in rome after all.
This name story makes for some interesting food for thought. I’m also not sure about naming the stadium after a politician. The thing is were do you draw the line? next it will be a situation were a politician robs the medical piggy bank dry and yet you will have a hopital named after him. Levy was in my opinion the best thing to happen to Zambia in Statehouse but if we go naming things after presidents imagine naming the high court after a person like Chiluba because he helped build some wing of it. The fallen heroes need recognition that we as a Zambian people have just simply failed to do. The anniverssary is now a joke, no holiday to commemorate, the families are starving etc. We could at least do this one little deed so that the world can see they were truely our heroes or were they really?? The way some people treat the mmory of our heroes you would think twice if you were not Zambian.
Amuna Onzuna on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 3:13 PM
No need of creating controversies over the naming of the Stadium yet,however,its good that we can always debate about this.Mwanawasa was a very good Man,we cant compare him to Chiluba(a thief) and Rupiah(Corrupt and visionless),so naming the stadium after Mwanawasa could be good(most especially that he is late).We do not owe any of
Uzzi on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 3:56 PM
Naming the stadium April 28 is also not a bad idea but i would rather they rename independence stadium since we have been told that it will soon be rebuilt, infact that would be best since the remains of our fallen heroes( May Their Souls Rest In Eternal Peace) are buried that side..LPM National Stadium still stands for me..
Anonymous on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 6:37 PM
Where is this stadium situated?
Gametime12 on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 7:13 PM
Name it after Kalu at least he has done a lot for Zambian football.
Uzzi on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 5:43 PM
Its in hillcrest, ndola..
kuku on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 7:02 PM
Kalu should get one thing named after him, the boy is still the only African footballer of the year in Southern Africa. Mwanawasa did well in many things, yes.