Emmerson Mnangagwa Stadium to be built in Mt Hampden?

In a bid to tackle the country's ongoing stadium crisis, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Recreation has recommended the construction of a new stadium in Mt Hampden, located just outside Harare. This move comes as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with the deteriorating state of its sporting facilities, many of which have been condemned by international governing bodies.

The lack of suitable venues has resulted in Zimbabwean national teams playing international matches abroad, a situation that has become increasingly embarrassing for the nation. At a pre-budget seminar held in Bulawayo on Thursday, the committee's chairperson, Chamu Chiwanza, emphasized the urgency of addressing the state of the country's sporting infrastructure.

Chiwanza proposed that the new stadium be built in the new city of Mt Hampden and suggested that it be named after President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He argued that the construction of modern sports facilities would not only enhance Zimbabwe's image internationally but also provide a long-term solution to the country's stadium issues.

"It is imperative to start to cast light on the state of our nation's sporting facilities. On the 2024 performance outcome, I spoke about the epidemic which is the stadia. I propose that the treasury and the minister here should come up with a special fund that ensures that stadiums, particularly the National Sports Stadium, can be renovated," Chiwanza said.

He added, "As a committee, we propose that we build a new stadium at the new City, and we already have a new name for it — the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Stadium."

Chiwanza's comments came amid ongoing renovation efforts at the National Sports Stadium, Zimbabwe's largest sports venue, which has suffered significant neglect over the years. However, the committee chairperson acknowledged that while renovations were underway at the stadium, the government should consider the broader issue of Zimbabwe's sporting infrastructure and move beyond just refurbishing existing facilities.

"The National Sports Stadium is old, yes, we are doing renovations on it. We put together a sub-committee which was chaired by Honourable Jere and went there and realized that 45 percent was complete," Chiwanza stated.

The National Sports Stadium, which was condemned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2021 for failing to meet international standards, has faced numerous setbacks in its refurbishment. The facility's poor condition has prevented it from hosting international matches and has also led to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) First Instance Body (FIB) flagging the stadium as unsuitable for local Premier Soccer League games.

Despite repeated promises by the government to refurbish the stadium, progress has been slow, and the facility remains far from meeting CAF's required standards.

Deputy Minister of Sports, Emily Jesaya, acknowledged that securing the necessary funds for the renovation work has been a challenge. "We have also tried to apply for funds from the Ministry of Finance but unfortunately we did not manage to get a release from the treasury," she said.

As Zimbabwe continues to face infrastructure challenges, the call for a new stadium in Mt Hampden reflects a growing recognition of the need for a long-term solution to the country's sporting venue crisis. The proposed Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Stadium would serve as a significant step forward in ensuring that Zimbabwe has modern, internationally recognized facilities for future sporting events.