Chronicle Editor
Farirai Machivenyika, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT is engaging local authorities to find ways of providing sports facilities that meet international standards, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Emily Jesaya told the National Assembly.
The Deputy Minister said Government policy also allowed clubs in any sporting discipline to lease facilities from their owners if the concerned parties agree on such arrangements.
She said this during a National Assembly question and answer session on Wednesday. “Government values provision of sporting infrastructure that meets acceptable standards.
“As a ministry, we are engaging with the Ministry of Local Government and local authorities so that we have facilities that meet international standards and this is not only for football but other sporting disciplines,” she said.
“On the issue of clubs leasing facilities, Government is open to clubs entering into such arrangements with whoever owns such facilities, provided they enter into legally binding lease agreements.”
On the on-going refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium, Deputy Minister Jesaya said works were in progress with expectations that the facility would meet Confederation of African Football standards by next year.
“The renovation works are progressing well and that include the water reticulation system and the bucket seats are on their way from China,” she said.
The country’s national football teams are playing their home matches away from home because no stadium in the country meets Caf or Fifa standards.
The Warriors, Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars have been playing their continental assignments in Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa because there are no certified stadia in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter