Cynthia Chitombi
Sports, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Conventry has revealed that her portfolio has taken over the management of the National Sports Stadium from the ministry of Local government.
“Good news: it has been agreed that ownership and operations of the National Sports Stadium in Zimbabwe will be transferred to the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation. We have the experience and passion to use this opportunity for Zimbabwe to become a sporting power house,” she said.
According to sources, the sports ministry had declared that it has to be in charge of all sporting facilities as local authorities and the ministry of Public Works had failed to manage them.
“ZIFA have failed to assure CAF that the work we are doing in the stadiums will safeguard our National Teams playing home games in Zimbabwe. ZIFA now has to come up with a stadium for our teams to play home games outside of Zimbabwe,” said Coventry.
The ministries – Local Government and Public Works, National Housing and Social Amenities and Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation were fighting to control the facilities.
The ministry has been saying that and upkeep of stadiums should be under their purview and not local authorities or any other state departments.
Minister Kirsty Coventry has been on a nationwide tour of some of the facilities visiting such places like Magamba Hockey Stadium, Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and others.
There, however, the ministry of youth, sport, arts and recreation has managed to administer the sporting facilities.
