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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT has pledged renewed financial and technical support towards the refurbishment of sports facilities for the country to be able to host international events.
The Presidium, represented by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, had a first-hand appreciation of the state of some of the country’s major sporting facilities after embarking on an assessment tour of the National Sports Stadium, Magamba Hockey Stadium and Rufaro Stadium in Harare today.
Acting Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Dr Jenfan Muswere, and Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya hosted the touring party.
The Acting Chief Director in the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Ms Eugenia Chidhakwa took the Vice President around the National Sports Stadium. They inspected the changing rooms, the pitch, the shower areas, CCTV system, water reticulation and ablution facilities.
From there, they moved to Magamba Hockey Stadium, which is in bad shape, but located on the same piece of land with the National Sports Stadium.
Vice President Mohadi, who was Deputy Minister of Sport when Magamba Hockey Stadium was built ahead of the 1995 All Africa Games, was touched by the state of the facility and promised Government’s intervention.
At Rufaro, Harare mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, explained progress that has been made at the venue in the last two years.
Dr Muswere said the tour sought to establish the progress made in terms of national, CAF and FIFA standardisation of the facilities.
“We started with the National Sports Stadium. The assessment included the media centres established there, the infrastructure, the water reticulation and the developments on the CCTV systems. We were looking at progress in terms of the 100-day cycles that were submitted by the Ministry of Sport,” he said.
“We moved to the Magamba Hockey Stadium and did a similar tour. At Rufaro Stadium, the Mayor of Harare, Councillor Jacob Mafume, accompanied us. We managed to do another assessment, led by VP Mohadi. We looked at the changing rooms and the turf.
“This exercise dovetails with National Development Strategy 1 which recognises the importance of sports and promoting sports facilities. We need to nurture talent as the people of Zimbabwe participate in the implementation of NDS1 in pursuit of Vision 2023.
“There is need for infrastructure to host local and regional sports disciplines across the country. The Honourable Vice President is impressed by the progress achieved so far. We are now focusing on accelerating progress.”
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