Gokwe budgets $2m for new stadium

Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Gokwe Town Council has set aside $2 million for the construction of a new stadium, town secretary Ms Melania Mandeya said.
The contractor is grappling with the soil type at the site. “We have already begun construction work though we have been redoing the lawn several times because of the sandy soil type that is easily eroded,” she said.

“Whenever we plant the lawn, it does not do so well because of the soil.”
The local authority has since roped in the services of a private player through a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement, as it was struggling to raise funds for the project.
“We have engaged a private entity in a PPP agreement,” said Ms Mandeya.

“The private company will help us put top soil and then plant the lawn that has been failing for the past two or so years.
“It’s unfortunate I cannot mention the name of the private company now as we are still engaged in talks.”
The project, said Ms Mandeya, was part of the town’s infrastructural development project, which seeks to earn the town municipal status by 2025.

“We have a goal of achieving municipal status by 2025, so for us to achieve that, we have to develop our infrastructure and this is one of the projects,” she said.
She said the town was lagging behind in terms of recreational facilities.

“We are lagging behind as a town in terms of recreation facilities that is why we intend to also include a swimming pool so that our children can be exposed to such facilities,” said Ms Mandeya.
The town has talent in abundance, but it sometimes goes unnoticed due to lack of adequate facilities.

“We envisage to have a soccer team playing in the top flight just like Mutare, Harare and Bulawayo, to name only few cities,” she said.

“We have a lot of talent in this area, but they are lacking exposure.
“We can produce national team players. If we produced goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro, what then can stop us from producing more? We can do it only if we give the youths a launch pad.”