Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MINISTER of Sport, Arts, Recreation and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe ran short of superlatives to describe the level of investment at Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe.
He said it fits perfectly in government’s policy for sports infrastructure development.
The 10 000-seater arena, now in the final stages of completion, is billed in the future to host CAF games. Minister Sanyatwe toured the facility in Kwekwe yesterday, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport Nicholas Moyo, Permanent Secretary for the Midlands Province Edgar Seenza, and officials from the two Ministries.
Chawanda Stadium is a privately funded project estimated to cost approximately US$10 million.
It was built by businessman Shepherd Chahwanda, and is home to newly-promoted Premiership side Hardrock.
“When we talk of investment, my brother, this is massive. To me, Mr Chawanda and partners are really implementing the call by His Excellency, the President, that ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’.
“The provision of sporting facilities is not only left to the government to construct or to maintain existing facilities, but the individuals as well.
“Here we are today, Mr Chawanda took it upon himself and heeded to the call for the provision of such facilities. Hence, the investment is massive, if I am to put it across that way,” said Minister Sanyatwe.
He also hailed efforts by Yadah owner Walter Magaya for the construction of the Heart Stadium and Scottland’ Scott Sakupwanya who is spearheading multi-million-dollar football facilities’ projects in Ruwa and Mabvuku.
Also housed at the complex are villas, a clinic, shops, a B-arena at the final stages of completion, a spacious car park and a gym.
“I am reliably informed that initially they wanted this facility to accommodate 5,000 in terms of capacity and then they increased the capacity to 10,000 and eventually made it to 15,000,” said Minister Sanyatwe.
The owner of the stadium are pushing for international football to be played in the mining town.
The facility was recently inspected by CAF inspectors led by Rwandan Aloys Mpambara who also conducted an inspection tour of the National Sports Stadium, Barbourfields and Ngoni in Norton.
“What an encouragement in this city of Kwekwe. As the Minister for Sport, Arts, Recreation and Culture, I am extremely very excited and we now have a facility that has been constructed in line with the standards approved and endorsed by CAF.
“And, here we are we should stand tall as Zimbabweans that we now have one of the facilities that has been certified by CAF.
“The team was around here, inspected the stadium including other attachments of the stadium and hence they made recommendations to one or two areas where Mr Chawanda and team are simply tying up the loose ends.
“But basically, to me, I think we do stand at 99 percent complete.”
Constructed along the Gokwe Road, less than half a kilometre from the Harare to Bulawayo Highway, Chahwanda Stadium has become a major landmark in the Midlands Province.
