Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE Parliamentary Portfolio on Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has expressed concern over the lack of progress in refurbishing the National Sports Stadium.
This came during an assessment tour of the multi-sport facility this Wednesday.
The assessment tour of the National Sports Stadium was abruptly abandoned after the Parliamentary Portfolio committee on Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture was disappointed with the lack of progress in the refurbishment works at the country’s biggest sports facility.
The ongoing renovations were expected to be completed by 30 May but the facility is nowhere near completion.
From the look of things, the stadium is resembling an abandoned facility.
The National Sports Stadium needs bucket seats and electronic access points among other specifications for the facility to meet international standards.
The pitch is also in a poor state while a new tartan track is required for athletics.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Honourable Chamu Chiwanza said, “We are extremely disappointed, there is nothing here but now we have an appreciation of the problems, we need an urgent seat down with the Ministry of Finance to understand why the funds have not been released when they are budgeted for and also we need to get an understanding with the Ministry of Local Government so that everything goes on smoothly because this is a shame for Zimbabwe, we can do better as a people.”
Two of the major challenges have been the disbursement of funds from the Central Bank and the lack of co-ordination between the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, which has custodial power over the facility and the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, the owners of the National Stadium.
The Sports and Recreation Commission indicated that it has secured a partner to assist with the refurbishment works.
“We have secured a partner to help us and very soon you will be seeing progress here unfortunately I cannot announce the partner as yet because it is being by top government officials but the announcement will be made by the right office,” said the Chairperson of Sports and Recreation Commission, Gerald Mlotshwa.
ZBC News has it on good authority that an inter-ministerial delegation and a private partner will soon travel to China to assess the bucket seats that have been purchased for the National Sports Stadium.
