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PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said the proposed cricket stadium in Victoria Falls was one of the priority projects that will be pursued with a greater sense of urgency as the country develops, improves, and expands the national integrated infrastructure.
He was delivering the keynote address at the official laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the Zimbabwe Cricket Stadium at the Masuwe Special Economic Zone for Tourism in Victoria Falls on Thursday. He added that the country was ready to co-host the 2027 Cricket World Cup with South Africa and Namibia.
“It is my great honour to officiate at this special occasion to lay the foundation stone for the Zimbabwe Cricket multi-purpose sporting infrastructure, anchored by an International Cricket Stadium, among other facilities. The project dovetails with my Administration’s quest to comprehensively broaden the tourism products and integrate the development of the Masuwe Special Economic Zone through promoting sports tourism within our premium resort City of Victoria Falls.
“I commend the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Recreation as well as Zimbabwe Cricket for the initiative to construct a cricket stadium as well as other related sporting and tourism facilities. The laying of the foundation stone marks the much-awaited first phase of the Masuwe Tourism Special Economic Zone. Well done, Congratulations, Makorokoto.
“This development, here in Matabeleland North, is in line with our devolution agenda to bring about multi-pronged development initiatives that leave no one and no place behind. This project, here in Victoria Falls, is most welcome as it will enhance the rich natural heritage associated with our premier resort city.
The location for the envisaged facility at this Special Economic Zone will undoubtedly contribute to the speedy attainment of tourism sector targets towards our national development aspirations as outlined in the National Development Strategy and Vision 2030,” he said.
A Joint Management Committee constituted by Victoria Falls City Council and Hwange Rural District Council, among other stakeholders, is facilitating the take-off of this project. He urged stakeholders to modernise sports stadia.
“The modernisation and societal evolving trends and patterns in the sports and recreation sector across the world should not be ignored as we develop sports, recreation and tourism industries. As we focus on the construction of the Zimbabwe Cricket Stadium, here in Victoria Falls, the rehabilitation, upgrading and modernisation of other sporting facilities across the country should equally be given appropriate attention.
This includes the construction of new community sports facilities, introduction of bucket seats at our stadiums across the country, as well as adoption of enabled aspects of sporting activities, which facilitate pre-match bookings and e-ticketing, among other aspects.
Such interventions should nurture talent across various sporting codes, including the development of sporting academies, and result in greater convenience for our sport-loving nation, while more efficient systems must see our clubs being professionally run and sustainably financed.”
Online Reporter