National Sports Stadium set to reopen on Africa Day

The government insists that Zimbabwe's flagship sporting venue, the National Sports Stadium, will officially reopen on May 24, despite ongoing visible construction activity and unfinished works at the site.

The stadium, which was condemned by the Confederation of African Football in 2019 due to non-compliance with international standards, has undergone more than five years of phased renovations estimated to exceed US$12 million.

A recent site visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture revealed scaffolding, rubble and active construction teams still working on key components of the stadium.

Despite this, Sports Ministry permanent secretary Nicholas Moyo maintained that 95% of CAF requirements have been met and reaffirmed the reopening timeline.

"The major focus is to ensure we open the stadium for local football so that teams can play here and we bring life again to the National Sports Stadium," Moyo said.

He added that the refurbishment also aims to ease pressure on alternative venues such as Rufaro Stadium, which has been hosting multiple fixtures weekly.

However, observers noted that several key areas remain incomplete, including the tartan track, which is yet to be refurbished, and sections of the ablution facilities, which are still under construction.

Workers on site indicated that water supply is currently limited to the pitch area, with restroom facilities not yet fully functional. Team dressing rooms also remain incomplete, with only showers installed so far.

The stadium is also undergoing installation of electronic turnstiles designed to scan tickets and monitor attendance in real time. One gate has been designated for persons with disabilities, according to officials.

Moyo said the renovations are aimed at achieving full homologation by both CAF and the FIFA, allowing the stadium to host both club and national team matches.

He said ablution facilities were demolished and rebuilt from scratch as part of the compliance upgrade.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Farai Jere, acknowledged progress but urged the ministry to accelerate completion ahead of the reopening date.

He said the stadium is expected to accommodate over 20,000 fans initially, with capacity potentially expanding as final works are completed.

"We are going to keep pushing so that we do not relax and fail to meet the target," Jere said.

While officials remain confident about the May 24 reopening, visible construction activity suggests that final touches are still being applied in several key areas.

The stadium's rehabilitation has long been seen as critical to restoring Zimbabwe's ability to host international football matches, with its prolonged closure forcing national teams to use alternative venues for both local and continental fixtures.

As the deadline approaches, attention is now focused on whether the long-delayed project will finally deliver a fully compliant, match-ready facility-or another revised completion timeline.