The mandate of the Department is to promote, develop and regulate sports in the country. The department has two sections namely; infrastructure development and mass participation. The Department is headed by the Director. The sports facilities that the department has include, Kamuzu Stadium, Kamuzu Institute for Sports, Bingu National Stadium, BAT Ground, Blantyre Youth Centre. 

The department performs the following functions;

• Provide Sports Policy direction and guidance;
• Promote mass participation in sports;
• Promote research in sports;
• Provide Sports and recreation infrastructure;
• Promote and develop school sports; and
• Promotion of International Corporation and participation in sports.