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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
SOME councillors want Harare City Football Club disbanded if it is unable to seek sponsorship outside council saying the US$1, 6 million it is consuming every season should be channelled towards service delivery.The councillors are, however, divided over selling the team with some arguing it promoted the city’s name.
Highlands, Colne Valley, Chisipite, Ballentyne Park, The Grange, Oval Park and Rhodesville, councillor Chistopher Mbanga, said the city’s policy on football had to be reviewed.
“We cannot spend US$1,6 million on a soccer team. Harare City should be sponsored by external sponsors. It should not be funded from rate payer’s money.
“The whole business should be re-examined thoroughly. We do not even know how much the team is bringing and this should also be investigated,” he said.
GlenView councillor Tungamirai Madzokere said cash inflow generated by the club must not exceed the cash outflow.
“We need to prioritise service delivery, that money can be used in improving the services offered to residents by the city,” said Madzokere.
Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni, who is also the Northwood, Borrowdale West, Vainona, Northwood, Groombridge, Mount Pleasant councillor, said council should prioritise service delivery.
“Whatever we are putting to soccer we are taking from service delivery,” he said.
Rugare and Lochnivar councillor Peter Moyo was against the idea of disbanding the soccer team. We cannot kill football, it was started a long time ago and that is why Government congratulated the City for coming second in the Premier League (Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo wrote a letter congratulating the city’s team for coming second) .
“The President also wants football to continue,” he said. Hatcliffe councillor Naboth Munyengera said the football team should be sold as it was costing the city a lot of money.
“The US$1,6 million should be channelled towards service delivery, we cannot spend so much on a football team, “ he said.
Council tasked the Information and Publicity committee to look into the matter and report back to full council.
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