KWEKWE: Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Nicholas Moyo, has praised Chahwanda Stadium, describing it as a pioneering facility, a first of its kind for Zimbabwe.
Also known as The Heart Main Arena, Chahwanda Stadium boasts several unique features that set it apart.These distinctive features include 24 en-suite rooms that can accommodate a full team, 52 entrances designed to ensure a stampede-free atmosphere, and 12 retail shops, making it a state-of-the-art facility.
According to Moyo, they are making frantic efforts to ensure the facility is commissioned on 28 February, barring any late changes.
However, what excites him the most is seeing individuals investing in football infrastructure. The construction of Chahwanda Stadium is being spearheaded by Hardrock FC owner Shepherd Chahwanda and prominent cleric Walter Magaya.
Speaking at the 15,000-seater facility on Thursday, Moyo said: “The Ministry is looking at private individuals who have taken a vision to contribute towards the President’s vision and the nation’s Vision 2030, which is towards an upper-middle-income society, and use their own resources to come up with such a huge facility.
“To Zimbabwe, we celebrate. This is a first and we celebrate. Why am I saying it’s a fest? If you look at another stadium, which is in Harare, which is called Heart Stadium. When you look at what is happening here, that one becomes like an ECD, you know, it’s like it’s nothing.
“This massiveness also shows the lessons that were learned when we were trying to construct Heart Stadium. And the desire to ensure that Zimbabwe has facilities that people can talk about, facilities that can host. And I’m very, very confident that the first match, either between our local clubs or, what do you call it, continental African qualifiers, can be hosted here.”
Moyo added: “And I’m very, very confident that the first match, either between our local clubs, or the CAF Champions League. I look forward to those matches.
“Because, remember, in previous years, they would go to Botswana and play. So our eyes are not only on the national team. So let’s start on the basics and ensure that when our clubs are playing teams from the region, all roads lead to Chahwanda.”
