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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT has expressed concern with the state of the sporting facilities around the country and believe they are being underutilised at the expense of development programmes for athletes.
The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa and his deputy Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga yesterday undertook a tour of some of the sporting facilities in Harare and Chitungwiza and they were not impressed with what they saw.
Langa and his deputy began their familiarisation tour with a visit to the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, which is now known more for hosting musical shows and church gatherings than swimming championships.
The government pair, accompanied by Sport and Recreation Commission director-general Charles Nhemachena, Sports Commission officials and representatives of national associations such as Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze, national Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara and Netball Association of Zimbabwe president Leticia Chipangu later visited Mbare Netball Complex, Gwanzura, Magamba hockey stadium and the National Sports Stadium.
Langa said there is need to engage the local government and all the concerned parties to map the way forward and establish the facilities.
“There is need to consider engaging all the concerned parties to make sure that all the sporting facilities remain along with world standards,” Langa said.
Most of the facilities no longer serve the purposes they were constructed for with Aquatic Complex now serving handball and five a-side soccer.
District Public Works Officer Godfrey Mandimika told Langa that the complex would need close to $2 million for it to be resuscitated.
“We had a problem when the basement was flooded and the facility is now being used for other activities like weddings, church services and musical shows.
“There are times when sporting activities like Kofiball, Handball and five-a-side soccer are held here but there is need to refurbish the facility.
“The Aquatic Complex last functioned in 2002 and the company which constructed it Aquatek of South Africa has since collapsed,” Mandimika said.
Similarly the Mbare Netball Complex which was mainly used during the 1995 All-Africa Games but is now being used for church services as well.
The complex is a multi-purpose which can host tennis, athletics, netball, basketball among other events but the facility needs a major uplift so that it can match international standards.
The various representatives of sports associations took time to update Langa and Kanengoni-Malinga on what needs to be done to upgrade the facilities some of which are virtually dilapidated.
Chipandu said there is a lot which needs to be done for the facility to get back to the original state.
“The complex used to be a world class one but we now use it for the national team in its current state. There is a lot which needs to be done if we are to compete in international events,” said Chipandu.
At Gwanzura Mashingaidze also spoke of the need for the old stadium to be refurbished and keep it in line with the prevailing trends in the region and the continent.
“There is a lot which needs to be done for this stadium to stay along with others,” said Mashingaidze.
“The ground need some lockers, secure parking area, offices and to be expanded so that it remains in line with world class standards,” Mashingaidze said.
The Minister was also told that Magamba needs emergency attention as Zimbabwe is expected to host the 2014 world hockey series.
Ginny Ross Zimbabwe Hockey association treasurer said the tuff at the stadium’s lifespan has since lapsed and it needs US $1, 8 million for resurfacing.
“There is a lot which needs to be done for Magamba to regain its status,” Ross said.
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