Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE City Council has injected US$1,2 million in a comprehensive sports infrastructure refurbishment programme from January to June 2025, resulting in significant upgrades to various facilities in the eastern border city.
The initiative aims to play a crucial role in reducing drug and substance abuse, promoting healthy lifestyles among youths, and providing pastime activities.
For nearly two decades, Mutare’s sports facilities had been in a state of disrepair, with Sakubva Stadium, the flagship football venue for Manicaland, being consistently banned from hosting top-flight league matches due to its poor state.
However, a bold decision to close the stadium for renovations, which included overhauling the drainage system and installing new turf, led to the restoration of its hosting rights for Premiership matches.
To date, Mutare City Council has, not only revamped Sakubva Stadium, but also completed renovations of Sakubva Swimming Pool, and acquired state-of-the-art equipment for its football and netball teams competing in elite leagues. The council has plans to upgrade Chikanga Sports Club and other facilities in Dangamvura.
Presenting the half-year budget review report to stakeholders at Mutare Hall on Monday, Mutare City Council Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka, said the local authority is committed to continue sprucing up sporting facilities around the city.
“We are investing in sports facilities refurbishment as a local authority as a way of helping the nation in the fight against drug and substance abuse. We have done Sakubva Stadium, Chisamba Grounds, and moved on to the swimming pool. Refurbishment of Sakubva Swimming Pool is now complete, and we are now seized with erecting a fence around it.
“We are aware that some people want us to have a perimeter wall for privacy and dignity of swimmers, but that will require more time for procurement. The fencing route will require much less time. We are going ahead with the refurbishment of sporting facilities to cover all corners of the city, including Chikanga Sports Centre and other facilities in Dangamvura,” said Chafesuka.
According to the half year budget review, the local authority is expected to complete Sakubva Stadium, Swimming Pool, Sakubva Tennis and Basketball Courts renovations by the end of the year.
The local authority’s sports account was advanced with US$1 191 868,49, and US$1 241 180,20 has already been spent on turnstiles at Sakubva Stadium (US$48 001,13), dugouts (US$4 126.,7), rubber mats (US$7 045,50), turf maintenance (US$6 676), Sakubva Swimming Pool (US$67 000), 56-seater bus (US$150 000), 26-seater bus (US$55 000), elite teams support (US$881 521), other sporting costs (US$12 095) and employee wellness programmes (US$9 715), giving a grand total of US$1 241 180,20.
Chafesuka said the allocation of resources towards sporting initiatives is also in line with a standing Government directive.
“Following a Government directive requiring all local authorities to allocate funds for sports in the 2025 budget, City of Mutare fully complied. It was made easy since residents had introduced a sports levy which received overwhelming support from ratepayers,” said Chafesuka.
The sports levy revenue analysis for the first half of 2025 shows that a total of US$49 311,71 was collected, with billing amounting to US$223 191.
This translates to a collection efficiency rate of 22,09 percent.
