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National Sports Stadium rehab will be completed by year-end
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Minister of Sports, Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe, has expressed optimism that the ongoing rehabilitation of the National Sports Stadium will be completed before the end of the year, provided resources continue to flow.
Delivering an update on the progress of the project this week, Sanyatwe said significant strides had been made to bring the facility up to CAF and FIFA standards. He emphasised that government's focus was not just on meeting requirements but on ensuring a perfect job that restores the stadium to international standards.
According to the minister, the installation of bucket seats is now 98% complete, while work on modern electronic entry gates is underway. The pitch has undergone a full reconstruction, with the contractor fitting a modern drainage and irrigation system as well as electrical installations. The irrigation system is already 90% functional, while river sand spreading is being finalised. Topsoil application is set to begin this weekend, followed by the seeding of the lawn. The field will then require between eight and ten weeks of growth and settlement, making it playable by the end of November 2025. A 505,000-litre water reservoir has already been completed.
On floodlighting, the outdated High Pressure Sodium lights have been decommissioned, with procurement of modern LED lights finalised and awaiting delivery from South Africa. Backup power will be provided by generators, with the construction of a generator house now 90% complete.
The modernisation of stadium amenities is also advancing. Dressing rooms, doping control rooms, CAF offices, health facilities, referee rooms and media rooms are undergoing demolition and redesign to align with international standards. Upgrades to the water reticulation system have reached 80% completion, following the completion of trenching and pipe laying.
Work on ablution facilities has seen the demolition of old structures almost finalised, while reconstruction is yet to begin. For the VIP section, seats and furniture have already been procured and await installation. Soil excavation in the B Arena has been completed, with drainage trenching at 40%.
Security and safety features are also being prioritised. Redesigns of the Venue Operation Control room and media tribune have been completed, with furniture awaiting installation. CCTV tubing is fully installed, while perimeter fencing work will begin shortly after the engagement of a contractor.
Sanyatwe concluded by assuring the nation that, given the progress so far, the National Sports Stadium would soon be ready to host international matches once again. "The Ministry is confident that the National Sports Stadium will be ready to host international matches, thereby restoring national pride and ensuring that Zimbabwean soccer is once again played before its home supporters. If resources permit, the stadium is expected to be complete by the end of the year," he said.
Delivering an update on the progress of the project this week, Sanyatwe said significant strides had been made to bring the facility up to CAF and FIFA standards. He emphasised that government's focus was not just on meeting requirements but on ensuring a perfect job that restores the stadium to international standards.
According to the minister, the installation of bucket seats is now 98% complete, while work on modern electronic entry gates is underway. The pitch has undergone a full reconstruction, with the contractor fitting a modern drainage and irrigation system as well as electrical installations. The irrigation system is already 90% functional, while river sand spreading is being finalised. Topsoil application is set to begin this weekend, followed by the seeding of the lawn. The field will then require between eight and ten weeks of growth and settlement, making it playable by the end of November 2025. A 505,000-litre water reservoir has already been completed.
On floodlighting, the outdated High Pressure Sodium lights have been decommissioned, with procurement of modern LED lights finalised and awaiting delivery from South Africa. Backup power will be provided by generators, with the construction of a generator house now 90% complete.
The modernisation of stadium amenities is also advancing. Dressing rooms, doping control rooms, CAF offices, health facilities, referee rooms and media rooms are undergoing demolition and redesign to align with international standards. Upgrades to the water reticulation system have reached 80% completion, following the completion of trenching and pipe laying.
Work on ablution facilities has seen the demolition of old structures almost finalised, while reconstruction is yet to begin. For the VIP section, seats and furniture have already been procured and await installation. Soil excavation in the B Arena has been completed, with drainage trenching at 40%.
Security and safety features are also being prioritised. Redesigns of the Venue Operation Control room and media tribune have been completed, with furniture awaiting installation. CCTV tubing is fully installed, while perimeter fencing work will begin shortly after the engagement of a contractor.
Sanyatwe concluded by assuring the nation that, given the progress so far, the National Sports Stadium would soon be ready to host international matches once again. "The Ministry is confident that the National Sports Stadium will be ready to host international matches, thereby restoring national pride and ensuring that Zimbabwean soccer is once again played before its home supporters. If resources permit, the stadium is expected to be complete by the end of the year," he said.
Source - online
