Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Municipal Correspondent
HARARE is set to rehabilitate and modernise recreational facilities across the city as part of efforts to bring them in line with contemporary standards and improve access to public amenities.
The move will target ageing facilities, some of which have fallen into disrepair, with the city saying there is a need to upgrade them as the capital continues to modernise.
Harare City spokesman Mr Stanley Gama said council was committed to improving recreational facilities, although the exact implementation programme was still being worked on.
“The creation of facilities is going to be improved. They should match modern standards because we have to move with the times,” he said.
“Some of them are old, but we have to upgrade them to modern standards.”
Mr Gama said the council had already demonstrated its ability to revive facilities that had remained dysfunctional for extended periods, starting with swimming pools.
“Remember, for example, we have a similar problem in Glen Norah, which has not been working for the past 10 years, more than 10 years, and we make sure the recreation returns to its former glory,” he said.
“But now we are rehabilitating the Craneborne community swimming, and it will be running soon”
He said the same approach would be applied to recreational facilities, including parks and gardens, as council seeks to restore public amenities.
“So the same thing will be implemented in recreational facilities like the one in Glen Norah B, Harare Gardens, Greenwood Park, Africa Unit Square and all swimming pools the park,” Mr Gama said.
Mr Gama said both Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume and the council’s leadership had directed responsible departments to ensure that recreational facilities were rehabilitated and modernised.
“Both the mayor and the 18-town clique have instructed those responsible to make sure that these facilities are rehabilitated and modernised,” he said.
He, however, said council was still working on the programme of action and could not immediately provide details on whether the rehabilitation programme would be implemented in phases.
“I will have to look for that programme of action, but yes, certainly there are efforts to improve those facilities,” he said.
The planned improvements come as Harare intensifies efforts to improve its urban environment and municipal infrastructure, with recreational facilities viewed as an important component of the city’s public amenities.
The rehabilitation of parks, gardens and other recreational facilities is expected to provide residents with improved spaces for leisure while also contributing to the broader regeneration of the capital.
