LOBAMBA – MPs have moved for the reduction of the Somhlolo National Stadium booking fees
The Members of Parliament (MPs) have rejected the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs claims that the current rates are in line with regional standards. The proposal took centre stage during a spirited debate on the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs’ Portfolio Committee report. As MPs scrutinised the report and budget estimates before the report’s formal adoption, the cost of accessing the nation’s premier sporting venue became a primary flashpoint.
The ministry had previously defended the E10 000 per match booking fee, justifying the cost by stating that they had benchmarked the rates against regional counterparts. According to the ministry’s earlier submissions, Eswatini’s fees were reasonable and competitive when compared to stadium costs in neighbouring countries.
However, legislators were far from convinced by the comparison. Mhlambanyatsi MP, Dr Bonginkhosi Dlamini, spearheaded the call for a reduction, arguing that local economic realities must take precedence over regional averages. He moved for the fees to be slashed to E3 500, contending that the higher price point was stifling the domestic game and placing an undue burden on Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) clubs already struggling with overheads.
The stadium fee debate was part of a wider, more contentious examination of Eswatini’s sporting landscape. While there were calls for the E42 million renovation budget for Somhlolo to remain intact, MP Marwick Khumalo expressed disappointment that the report did not address the immediate needs of a stadium. Khumalo reiterated his stance that these funds should be diverted to Microprojects to address more pressing social issues.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
Leave a comment