Bulawayo open to PPPs in upgrading sporting facilities

The City of Bulawayo has expressed its willingness to embrace Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in a bid to upgrade its sporting infrastructure, with officials saying such collaborations could enhance the city's ability to host major sporting events and stimulate local economic growth.

Speaking on the city's development strategy, Bulawayo's Community Services Officer, Mr Nkosiyavuma Sivela, said the local authority was open to transparent PPP arrangements aimed at modernising sports facilities under its jurisdiction.

"However, going forward, the low-hanging fruit would be utilising the newly adopted ring-fencing of seven percent of the council's sporting facilities revenue to refurbish them," said Mr Sivela. He added that the council had a vested interest in rehabilitating its sporting facilities, given the significant role sports play in contributing to the city's economy.

Mr Sivela emphasised the importance of having well-maintained and certified sports facilities, noting that they increase Bulawayo's chances of hosting national, regional, and international competitions. "This promotes sports tourism and grows the city's Gross Domestic Product," he said. "Further to that, these events have an economic multiplier effect that benefits hotels, lodges, media houses, informal traders, transporters, food manufacturers, sports equipment shops, and even volunteers."

He pointed out that access to the council's sporting facilities was governed by strict conditions of hire to ensure the preservation of the infrastructure. While the city leases or hires out most of its sports grounds to the public, Mr Sivela said the council retained the right to withdraw any facility from use if it appeared to be deteriorating or if past use compromised its readiness for the next event.

Bulawayo owns several major sporting facilities, including the internationally recognised Barbourfields Stadium, which has hosted continental football tournaments in the past. Despite some of the facilities being in need of upgrades, many have been kept in reasonably good condition.

The city also maintains numerous youth centres and community grounds, particularly in the western suburbs, which cater to the recreational and sporting needs of young people. Mr Sivela highlighted that sporting facilities have multi-stakeholder importance, and sometimes requests for use are turned down if an event is likely to leave the grounds in a state that would hinder their immediate reuse.

As the city explores ways to modernise its infrastructure, the openness to PPPs and the internal reinvestment of revenue mark a significant step in positioning Bulawayo as a hub for sports development and related economic activities.