Harare City Council Approve Sakunda Holdings’ Proposal To Renew Rufaro Stadium
Harare City Council have finally given a greenlight to Sakunda Holdings Company, to go ahead in uplifting Rufaro Stadium to international standards in return of a long term lease of the historical stadium.
The approval comes a few months after a proposal made by the energy company, who also sponsors Dynamos and Highlanders football clubs, to adopt the neglected Rufaro Stadium and Belgravia sports club which they plan to upgrade to world class standards for the use by the Glamour boys.
According to the Herald, The energy, logistics and trading company proposed to renovate the entire stadium to meet international standards including the playing turf, install bucket seats and rehabilitation of pitches surrounding the stadium including help in the refurbishment of roads and other facilities in and around the stadium to meet international standards.
In a letter to Sakunda Holdings, Harare municipal acting Town Clerk, Phakamile Moyo, said the municipality is now working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between the two parties.
“I am glad to advise that on February 28, Council granted Acting Town Clerk authority to sign a Memorandum of understanding on behalf of the City of Harare with Sakunda Holdings on the proposal of a long lease for (the) refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium to the FIFA soccer stadia standards subject to expectations of the City,” read Moyo’ letter.
In the agreement, the company will have naming rights and they have proposed the stadium to be used by Dynamos as their home ground for the agreed duration.
However, provisions have been made for the stadium to remain open to other teams and will be used for CAF competitions.
Rufaro Stadium was officially opened in 1972 after its construction and was only upgraded once to its current state at the beginning of 1995, in preparations for the 6th All Africa games that were hosted in Zimbabwe in September 1995.
Sakunda Holdings has also proposed to do the same with Bulawayo’s Bourboufields Stadium which is used by Highlanders as their home ground.
Gwanzura stadium has also been given to minister in the president’s office, USA based pastor Ubert Angel, who has reportedly already forwarded a USD$50 million for the renovations of the stadium.
Zimbabwe currently has no approved stadiums to host international matches, with the country’s biggest stadium, National Sports Stadium recently suspended by FIFA to host international matches after failing to meet required standards.
