Mafume seeks private sector help for stadia

HARARE Mayor Jacob Mafume has called on the private sector to partner the city council in rehabilitating sports facilities across the capital, acknowledging the need to bring stadia back to acceptable standards.

Mafume made the call after touring Mabvuku Stadium, which is undergoing redevelopment following the securing of a long-term lease by ZANU PF Member of Parliament Pedzai "Scott" Sakupwanya.

The facility is part of the Scottland Football Club project, which the club is spearheading.

Mafume said every community in Harare should have access to a playable stadium, despite several council-owned facilities having deteriorated due to years of inadequate maintenance.

"As you will recall, a few months ago, we entered into a partnership with Mombeyaora to develop this ground into a Premier League and international stadium, and also as part of our efforts to work with the communities and bring sports to the communities to fight drugs and revitalise infrastructure that had been there before – usable, but has been there before – yet we want to modernise it and make it better," Mafume said.

He said the council's vision was for every community to have a facility capable of hosting football at a high level.

"Our vision is that every community in Harare must have a stadium of this nature, if not better, where soccer can be played. Harare must have Premier League-ready stadiums," he said.

However, the council has faced criticism over the condition of stadiums under its control, with several once-popular football venues now in a state of disrepair.

Gwanzura Stadium and Dzivarasekwa Stadium, which previously hosted top-flight football matches, have deteriorated amid years of limited maintenance and investment.

Mafume said Harare had the potential to host more local and international football matches if adequate investment was made in upgrading its sporting infrastructure.

"I believe we can sustain many teams, and we can sustain sport commercially and develop a sports economy," he said.

The mayor's call comes as private-sector involvement in sports infrastructure gains momentum, with the redevelopment of Mabvuku Stadium offering an example of how partnerships could potentially revive neglected facilities.

The council hopes such partnerships can help address its infrastructure challenges while creating modern sporting facilities that benefit communities and support the growth of the city's sports economy.