State-of-the-art cricket stadium for Gweru

Patrick Chitumba in Gweru

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has agreed with Gweru City Council (GCC) for the development of a new state-of-the-art cricket stadium in the city ahead of two major global events in the country.

ZC and GCC signed the agreement in Harare on Friday where the local authority will avail a piece of land for stadium development.

The project comes as Zimbabwe is preparing to co-host two major global cricket tournaments, the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

The agreement, which relates to a 10 446-hectare piece of land in the Midlands capital, will be legally binding for 99 years.

ZC is looking to turn the plot into a multi-purpose stadium, including spectator stands, a VIP pavilion, a media centre, corporate boxes and an accommodation facility.

GCC town clerk Livingstone Churu said ZC is going to invest in a state-of-the-art cricket stadium in Gweru.

“This is a 99-year lease where Zimbabwe Cricket is going to come in to construct a state-of-the art cricket ground and us, as the City of Gweru, we are providing the space in terms of the land — it’s a 10-hectare (piece of) land so that at least they can put up all the facilities,” he said.

“It’s a multi-discipline facility where you are going to have cricket, you are also going to have squash, I am sure and all the other disciplines, even tennis. So, that is how it’s structured.”

ZC managing director, Givemore Makoni said they are pretty excited with the lease agreement with GCC.

“This is a huge milestone as far as cricket development is concerned, as it means we are bringing cricket to the Midlands Province.

“One of our strategic objectives is to become the number one sport in the country and to achieve that we are taking the game to all four corners of the country.

“But without Gweru, the capital city of one of the major provinces that strategic goal or milestone will not be reached,” he said.

Gweru will be used as one of the practice venues for the main events.

“As you know, we are hosting the Under-19 Men’s World Cup in 2026 and the Men’s World Cup in 2027 and we will need practice and match venues,” said Makoni.

GCC Mayor Councillor, Martin Chivhoko welcomed the development, hailing it as a game changer for the Midlands capital.

“As a city, we are happy with this partnership that we have entered with ZC for the growth of sport in our city.

“It’s also going to improve our GDP as we are going to have visitors who will come for cricket matches in our city,” he said.