Chronicle Editor
Langton Nyakwenda
THE refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium is expected to gather pace after the government overcame several bottlenecks that had stalled the project.
The 38-year-old facility, which last hosted international matches in 2021, is undergoing renovations through a partnership between the government and Sakunda Holdings.
Although a fixed deadline for completion has not been set, expectations are that the National Sports Stadium will begin hosting international matches before the end of the year.
The scope of work includes the installation of bucket seats, a new turnstile system, and repairs to the water reticulation system. Work on the pitch and ablution facilities is also ongoing.
The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Kirsty Coventry, toured the National Sports Stadium yesterday to receive a hands-on update on the renovations. She was accompanied by her deputy, Emily Jesaya, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Nicholas Moyo.
So far, five bays, along with the VVIP tribune, have been fitted with bucket seats. Work on the pitch has begun, while Gate 1 now features a new turnstile system.
“The biggest challenge we faced has been financial constraints in terms of the release of the budget and receiving funds on time. However, the Treasury and Finance Ministry have been doing a very good job,” said Minister Coventry.
“We are also very grateful to the partners who have contributed the bucket seats,” she added.
The government has allocated 884 million ZiG towards the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium. However, according to the Minister, the extent of the work required is greater than initially anticipated, necessitating further effort before the facility can be reopened.
The Ministry, through the Sports and Recreation Commission, has been collaborating closely with the Zimbabwe Football Association, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and Fifa.
“Not everything goes to plan, especially when dealing with a very old stadium,” Coventry said.
“As we begin refurbishing different areas, we realise that the job is actually bigger than initially thought. However, in a way, that’s positive because we now have a clearer understanding of what needs to be addressed.
“It is a little more extensive than we originally estimated, which has slowed progress slightly. Now, we are prioritising the most critical tasks that need to be completed within the available budget.”
Despite the challenges, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far.
“You can see the beautiful new seats in some of the bays. All the bucket seats are now here, and it’s just a matter of installation.
“Good work is being done on the pitch. It’s reassuring to know that the bottom layer of the pitch is still in good condition, so only the top layer requires renovation. That’s really positive news.”
After receiving a briefing from engineers from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Minister Coventry acknowledged the significant work required to restore the water reticulation system.
“There was more damage to the water reticulation system than we initially expected. All the pipes have now been removed, and work is ongoing.
“The engineers have also pointed out additional issues that have come to light during renovations, which we will now address as part of the overall project.”
Work on the new turnstile system is expected to be completed “in the next few weeks.”
CAF and Fifa have been providing guidance through video conferences, and once renovations are complete, CAF will send inspectors to assess the facility before granting certification for international matches.
The Ministry is expected to hold a press conference soon to provide an update on the project timelines.
“We would have liked the process to move faster, but I’m pleased to see that all the bucket seats have arrived, and now it’s just a matter of installing them,” Coventry said.
“I want to extend a big thank you to Fifa and CAF for their continuous guidance. The partnerships are working very well, and I’m glad that our relationships with these organisations are where we want them to be.”
Nicholas Mutengu, Deputy Director of Construction and Maintenance in the Ministry of Local Government, summarised the ongoing work at the stadium.
“The scope of the refurbishment includes the installation of bucket seats, as you have seen, and work is in progress.
“Another key focus is the installation of turnstiles at the entrance gates.
“We are also working on the pitch to meet CAF requirements, improving the stadium’s water supply, and upgrading the ablution facilities to a flush master system.
“In addition, we are replacing the floodlights with energy-efficient LED lighting and installing backup generators to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to the facility,” said Mutengu.
The National Sports Stadium was originally constructed by a Chinese company between October 1984 and April 1987.
Online Reporter