Zimbabwe will continue to play its home international football matches abroad for the foreseeable future following the government's announcement of a new, long-term strategy for the National Sports Stadium's rehabilitation.
Instead of investing US$5 million to meet CAF standards, the government has opted for a more extensive project requiring several million dollars.
Recently, the Warriors hosted Lesotho in South Africa for a Fifa World Cup qualifier and will play their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in foreign venues. This exile will also apply to the women’s team and clubs participating in CAF competitions.
Premier Soccer League chairperson and Member of Parliament, Farai Jere, questioned the government's lax approach to the stadium's urgent issues, which he believes could be addressed with a US$5 million investment.
Jere raised the matter in a parliamentary session with Finance deputy minister, David Mnangagwa.
"I wanted to check with the minister on the government’s plan for the renovation of the National Sports Stadium. The country is under serious embarrassment that we are playing our matches outside the country," Jere said.
Mnangagwa's response dashed hopes for a quick fix, revealing a strategy that will delay the return of international football to Zimbabwe.
"I would like to thank the honourable Member for raising such a contentious issue on the National Sports Stadium,” he said.
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“In addition to the budgetary allocation that we set aside for the National Sports Stadium, we have realised that there is need to think outside the box when it comes to capitalising or recapitalising for the construction and refurbishment of our National Sports Stadium.
“What we have done and what I am given as premature information, it is important for this House to realise that the ministry and the government is doing something for the National Sports Stadium.
“We are currently in talks with some private sector players to see how best we can create a vehicle that can be listed as a right on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange.
“What that will enable is to allow pension funds, private players and Zimbabweans in general, to crowdfund for the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium," Mnangagwa said.
He cited the success of similar strategies in establishing malls in Harare.
"These instruments have successfully funded projects like Highlands Park and several shopping malls,” Mnangagwa said.
"We have seen this to be an expedient way to raise the capital needed to holistically sort the issue that we are facing with the National Sports Stadium.
“It is indeed a priority but we have realised that if we join hands with the private sector, we can get closer to running the stadium commercially but also getting private sectors involved in what could be a lucrative investment.
“These are some of the measures that we are making in addition to the budgetary allocations," he added.
However, Jere insisted on the urgency of government intervention to meet CAF requirements while exploring long-term solutions.
"Our concern is, we went through the amount of money that is required to refurbish the National Sports Stadium, US$12 million is what is required to complete the job but US$5 million can make it usable,” he said.
“Are we saying as a government, we really appreciate what the government is doing, the roads and other infrastructure, which are cropping up?
“However, are we saying the government cannot allocate US$5 million to avoid the embarrassment, which the President Dr. E.D (Emmerson Dambudzo) Mnangagwa is going through if you go on social media that your government is failing to refurbish the National Sports Stadium?
“The question is, are we saying as a country, we cannot raise US$5 million, whilst we are waiting for other investors to join hands to make sure that at least we play our next match here at home?" Jere argued.
Mnangagwa reiterated that budgeted funds are being disbursed according to schedule and emphasised a holistic approach to upgrading the stadium to world-class standards.
"I can assure the honourable Member that the US$5 million would not be a sacrifice. There is indeed money that had already been budgeted for the National Sports Stadium and these disbursements are happening according to the schedule of contracts that are in place.
“What I was speaking to honourable speaker, is a holistic solution to get the National Sports Stadium to a world class facility and not just usable. Plans for the interim are actually underway and their process is currently in play. I stand guided by the Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (Kirsty Coventry)."
Despite earlier government promises to have the stadium ready for international matches by June, progress has been limited. Recent social media posts showed government and Sakunda Holdings officials inspecting bucket seats in China, one of CAF’s key demands.
The government has since confirmed that the stadium will not host international football this year, leaving Zimbabwe’s teams to continue their search for alternative venues abroad.
