Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
THE City of Bulawayo says it is open to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the upgrading of sporting facilities.
The city’s community services officer, Mr Nkosiyavuma Sivela, said the council was open to transparent PPPs to upgrade its sports facilities.
“However, going forward, the low-hanging fruit would be utilising the newly adopted ring fencing of seven percent of the council’s sporting facilities revenue to refurbish them,” he said.
Mr Sivela said the city had a vested interest in the rehabilitation of sporting facilities as they have an effect on the development of the economy.
“A lot of benefits will accrue to the city if it has good sporting facilities,” he said.
“For instance, when the city has certified sporting facilities, it can periodically host or has the leverage to host major qualifying competitions and competition tournaments of national, regional or international stature.
“This promotes sports tourism and grows the city’s Gross Domestic Product. Further to that, these events have an economic multiplier effect that benefits hotels, lodges, media houses, informal traders, transporters, food manufacturing industries, sports equipment shops, manufacturers and volunteers among others.
“Access to and use of the council’s sporting facilities is premised on strict conditions of hire.”
The city owns most of the sporting facilities it leases or hires out to the public and most of them have been kept in good condition despite the need for upgrades.
It also owns Barbourfields Stadium, which has hosted international tournaments.
Mr Sivela said that while the council leases or hires out its sporting facilities, it also reserves the right to withdraw any ground from use if, in its opinion, it appears to be deteriorating.
He said sporting facilities have multi-stakeholder interests and the council at times, declines certain requests if the aftermath of the event renders the facility unusable by the next stakeholder.
The city also has youth centres catering for the youth’s sporting needs and community grounds dotted around the western suburbs.
