Barbourfields won't be renamed Lookout Masuku Stadium

Barbourfields Stadium cannot be changed to Lookout Masuku  Stadium  as the  late Zipra commander has no known history of football, MDC-T councilors declared.

Bulawayo council seek to rename the famous stadium and the late Highlanders Football Club patron Tafi Moyo has emerged as the front runner.

Councillors acknowledged that Masuku played  a vital role in the liberation struggle but made no contribution to football in both the city or the country, to deserve the stadium to be named in his honour.

 Mlandu Ncube tabled the motion saying "I am writing this letter as a motion moving that we as council we rename our big stadium Barbourfields to Lookout Masuku stadium.

" General Lookout Masuku was a great soldier who fought the liberation struggle. I see it not good to not preserve this name yet we still have colonial names".

He said people who are far junior to Masuku have been "honoured with streets and suburbs' names. I think this will be a good move as it will keep reminding us that for us to enjoy this freedom there are people who sacrificed".

In rejecting the motion, the  department of housing and community services  said "I therefore would not support the change of name of the stadium. Just because it is an English name does not make it colonial. 'Lookout' is also an English name.

"Secondly, and admittedly, Lookout Masuku is a hero to all and sundry, but what is his link to soccer?

"We have never heard of his interest in soccer. Lastly, Masuku was a national hero, and as such, it is Government that bestows heroes' name on monuments and not local authorities,".