HARARE
–
The
refurbishment
of
the
National
Sports
Stadium
is
still,
far
from
complete
after
Finance
Minister
Mthuli
Ncube
said
Wednesday
only
US$3,8
million
out
of
a
projected
US$25,4
million
has
been
disbursed
so
far
towards
the
process.
He
was
speaking
in
parliament
after
he
had
been
requested
by
MPs
to
give
an
update
on
the
progress
made
so
far
towards
the
refurbishment
of
the
60,000-seater
sporting
facility
since
the
beginning
of
this
year.
“The
engagements
with
the
Ministry
of
Sports,
Recreation,
Arts
and
Culture
indicated
that
to
date,
only
US$6,75
million
dollars
has
been
contracted,”
Ncube
said.
This,
he
added,
relates
to
infrastructural
development
including
water
reticulation
system,
installation
of
the
security
systems
such
as
CCTV,
access
control
equipment,
as
well
as
ticketing
system.”
“Out
of
this
amount,
the
total
value
of
work
done
and
certified
amounts
to
3,8
million
which
has
since
been
paid
for
in
full,”
said
the
Treasury
boss.
He
said
representations
made
by
the
Local
Government
Ministry
this
year
put
the
total
budget
at
US$25,4
million
towards
the
full
refurbishment
process.
Of
the
amount,
US$17,5
million
would
be
channelled
towards
refurbishment
of
infrastructure,
improvement
in
security
and
access
control
while
US$7,9
million
was
aimed
towards
other
works
such
as
palisade
fencing,
groundworks
and
other
ancillary
works.
Ncube
could
not
commit
to
any
timelines
in
terms
of
funds
disbursement
towards
the
works,
adding,
“There’s
no
predictable
implementation
and
cashflow
plan
with
attendant
milestones
to
effectively
execute
required
works
at
National
Sports
Stadium.”
In
his
2024
national
budget,
the
minister
only
set
aside
US$2,75
million
towards
the
refurbishment
of
the
facility.
Government’s
half-hearted
refurbishment
of
the
sports
facility
would
come
with
a
lot
of
distress
for
many
Zimbabwean
football
fans
who
have
been
deprived
of
their
privilege
to
watch
the
national
teams
in
action
on
home
soil
after
all
stadiums
were
banned
by
CAF
for
failure
to
meet
the
required
standards
to
host
international
matches.
The
Zimbabwe
Warriors
and
local
teams
such
as
Dynamos
and
Ngezi
Platinum
have
hired
sports
facilities
in
countries
such
as
Rwanda,
South
Africa
and
Botswana
to
host
international
matches.