Rufaro stadium on the brink of condemnation amid rapid decline

Rufaro Stadium, the historic heart of Zimbabwean football, is facing the grim possibility of being condemned once again-barely a year after it was reopened for top-flight matches.

The Mbare-based stadium, home to Dynamos, CAPS United, Herentals, and Scottland FC, is showing alarming signs of deterioration, with the pitch surface severely damaged, raising player safety concerns. The ground's constant use by multiple Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams and Division One clubs has overwhelmed its capacity, putting its structural integrity and playing surface under immense strain.

With six matches scheduled within an 11-day period, excluding Division One fixtures, the iconic venue is buckling under pressure.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, speaking at a recent City Council meeting at Town House, did not mince his words as he warned that Rufaro could soon be blacklisted by football authorities if urgent action is not taken.

"Two weeks is too long. The renovations must be done because the stadium is about to be condemned again," said Mafume, urging councillors to prioritise the stadium's upgrade.

This development would spell disaster for Harare-based PSL teams, who may be left without a suitable venue for their home matches should Rufaro be barred. The scenario also reflects a broader crisis in the management of public sports infrastructure under the Harare City Council (HCC).

Earlier this year, the council partnered with Scottland FC, owned by Mabvuku Member of Parliament Pedzai "Scott" Sakupwanya, in a bid to breathe new life into the stadium. However, no significant renovations have taken place, and key deliverables remain unfulfilled.

The installation of bucket seats, promised by Mayor Mafume for mid-2025, is still far behind schedule. The stadium continues to operate with an outdated scoreboard, and electronic turnstiles-crucial for modern match-day security and efficiency-are yet to be installed.

Rufaro's rapid decline is emblematic of a wider neglect of council-owned sports facilities, many of which have become derelict and unusable. Mafume admitted as much during the council meeting, lamenting the sorry state of Harare's sports venues.

"The state of City Sports-let us look at them. Every time, I have to apologise when I arrive at any council facility. It is not nice. The place does not look good, but there are simple things we should fix," he said.

Built in the 1960s, Rufaro Stadium holds deep historical and cultural significance, having hosted generations of local football talent and legendary encounters. Its potential demise is not only a blow to football in Harare but also a damning indictment of urban infrastructure management in Zimbabwe's capital.

With the Castle Lager PSL season intensifying and Harare's top clubs jostling for supremacy, the future of Rufaro now hinges on whether city authorities can muster the political will and resources to restore the stadium before it's too late.