Sanyatwe raves about Chahwanda Stadium

Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe has praised the newly constructed Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe, describing it as a significant milestone in addressing Zimbabwe's long-standing shortage of modern sporting facilities.

The 15,000-seat stadium, developed by businessman Shepherd Chahwanda and partners, was officially toured by the minister alongside the ministry's permanent secretary, Nicholas Moyo. The facility has been highlighted as a key example of private-sector participation in national infrastructure development.

Sanyatwe commended the developers for responding to government calls for increased private investment in sports infrastructure, noting that such initiatives reduce pressure on the state and accelerate development.

"When you talk of investment, this is massive. Mr. Chahwanda and his partners are implementing the call by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, that sporting facilities should not only be left to the government," he said.

He added that the project had grown significantly in scale, expanding from an initial plan of 5,000 seats to 10,000, and eventually reaching a 15,000-seat capacity.

The minister also confirmed that the stadium meets Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements, positioning it among the country's approved top-tier sporting venues.

"We should stand tall as Zimbabweans, knowing that we now have one of the facilities certified by CAF," Sanyatwe said.

He described the development as a "beacon of progress" for Kwekwe and encouraged other private investors to emulate similar projects to improve Zimbabwe's sports infrastructure landscape.