dyton mupawaenda
Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter
Churches and social clubs in Chitungwiza have petitioned their local authority over commercial development on the football ground at Town Centre.
Home to local teams, the grounds in Unit D were allegedly parcelled out by the opposition CCC council, but construction is now temporarily halted following interventions by the residents.
A visit at the site yesterday showed there was a perimeter wall under construction at one of the few remaining areas for sport and recreation in the town.
Chitungwiza Municipality spokesperson Mr Lovemore Meya said operations by the developer had been halted after the council received the petition from the community.
“We have stopped them from developing and they have since been invited to our offices for deliberations over the issue,” he said.
The petition addressed to the town clerk referenced, “displeasure on the allocation of our community recreational and soccer grounds opposite Chitungwiza Town Centre in Unit D for unknown purposes”.
“It is with great displeasure that we write to you as the local authority in the manner in which our soccer grounds opposite Chitungwiza Town Centre was allocated to an unknown somebody who is currently erecting a fence around the ground,” reads the petition.
It states several reasons for opposing the allocation and privatisation of the community facility.
Among the reasons they argue that the ground is host to 10 plus community soccer teams who use it both for training and matches.
It is also a host to many soccer academies which promote the building and growing of young soccer talents as it the only ground left between Seke unit D, J, K, C, A and H.
The petition further states that the grounds are a breeding ground for a lot of talent, including Tinotenda Chiunye playing for Dynamos FC and Tatenda Tumba playing for Harare City FC.
Other stars to emerge from the grounds are the late Ronald Mudimu who played for different clubs in Zimbabwe.
“The grounds have been one of the places used to deal with rehabilitation and the reduction of drug abuse in and around the community,” read the petition. “The grounds are a symbol of hope and good up bringing for the community and as such a school is not what we want as we have two primary schools and a secondary school less than 300 metres away from the grounds.”
A vendor, Mr Takunda Gurundoro, said: “We need these children to be occupied. The place also hosts churches and several activities. It can be used for vocational training.”
Online Reporter