Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture Minister Kirsty Coventry has blamed Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube for stalling progress on the National Sports Stadium (NSS) renovations by delaying releasing required funds.
The National Sports Stadium is the biggest soccer stadium in Zimbabwe regarding carrying capacity. The 60,000-seater stadium hosts domestic and international soccer matches when it is in use.
However, it was banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from hosting international football. It was also not deemed fit to host local football matches.
This ban resulted in the government moving in to try and upgrade the facility.
However, progress has taken a long time due to delays in the release of funds by the Ministry of Finance. Watch the tour of the National Sports Stadium by Parliament HERE
Sports Minister Kirst Coventry said her ministry has done its part and is only waiting for funds.
‘’…there were tenders that went up last year. These tenders were signed and agreed to. The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion agreed to release money and yet today we still do not have money.
‘’…I have had numerous conversations, meetings, and letters with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion where the releases have been promised and have yet to date not been released. Hence the contractors that were on site, in January, February and sometime in March, have now stopped all works until they are paid.
‘’Hon. Speaker, that is the update that I can give until the Ministry receives adequate funding release from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. The Ministry’s responsibilities of tendering, upholding tenders and coming in from a technical expertise, that is open – we now await the releases to ensure that the contractors can fulfil their duties,’’ she said.
In the absence of the National Sports Stadium, Zimbabwe’s senior national soccer team the Warriors are having to play home matches outside the country.
