‘Considerable progress made in NSS upgrade’

Mukudzei Chingwere

GOVERNMENT is making considerable progress on the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium in its quest to ensure it meets the Confederation of African Football standards to host international matches.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere said after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting that considerable progress had been made on the refurbishment of the stadium, which is the traditional home of Zimbabwe’s Warriors.

He said the Minister of Sport, Recreation Arts and Culture Kirsty Coventry yesterday updated the Cabinet on the progress recorded on projects under her purview including the National Sports Stadium refurbishment.

“Refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium in Harare metropolitan province is progressing well, with completion of stadium water reticulation works being 65 percent complete,” said Muswere as presented by Coventry to Cabinet.

“Closed-circuit television (CCTV), turnstiles, and venue operations control is 50 percent complete, and bucket seat installation is 35 percent complete,” he said.

The government also gave an update on the work being undertaken at Concession Recreational Park.

“(Also) resuscitation of Concession Recreation Park in Mashonaland Central Province is 40 percent complete,” Muswere said.

The government recently decried the failure of the National Sports Stadium to host international matches with President Mnangagwa’s delegation opening negotiations with the Chinese for its rehabilitation during his visit to China early this month.

The failure to meet international standards by the stadium has meant that the Warriors and the country’s representative teams in the CAF inter-club competitions have had to play their home matches outside of the country.

Zimbabwe’s Confederation Cup representatives, Dynamos are using Francistown in Botswana for their second preliminary round tie against Orapa United, in which they will be the home team on September 22.

Similarly, the Warriors hosted Cameroon in Kampala, Uganda for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.