Gvt engages more players to speed up NSS renovations

By ALBERT MASAKA

GOVERNMENT has engaged private players to fund National Sports Stadium (NSS) renovations, in a move that is set to save Zimbabwe from further embarrassment of not playing international football matches at home following a ban by CAF.

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion deputy minister Kuda Mnangagwa said this yesterday in the august House in response to a question by Murehwa West legislator Farai Jere.

Jere who was seeking an update on the progress made by the government to renovate the NSS said that Zimbabwe and its leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa were facing humiliation as the national soccer team was playing its home matches outside the country.

“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.”

“These instruments Hon. Speaker, have been very successful, our rights have seen the construction of your Highlands Park, a few shopping malls and 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. I thank you.

“The question is, are we saying as a country, we cannot raise 5 million USD whilst we are waiting for other investors to join hands to make sure that at least we play our next match here at home?”

Mnangagwa added that that was need for a holistic solution to get the National Sports Stadium to a world class facility and not just usable. 

Emakhandeni-Luveve MP, Honourable Discent Bajila expressed concern over reports that bucket seats for the National Sports Stadium were being procured from China when local companies such as Tregers Plastics in Bulawayo can manufacture them. 

“Is it Government policy to neglect local manufacturers and they prioritise importation instead of import substitution in the reconstruction of the National Sports Stadium?”

In response Mnangagwa said that government policy in terms of procurement is guided by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act

“I would think that all processes are within their domain, whether the one who ends up winning is purchasing locally or internationally, but it is through the guidance of the Act.