Govt dreams of World Cup soccer

y South Africa.
Information obtained by The Zimbabwean shows that the regime’s officials at various levels, including tourism and sport, are planning to reap huge benefits from the event.
Harare Metropolitan Province Governor, David Karimanzira last week told a meeting in Harare that “the country is preparing to host the 2010 World Cup finals”. The meeting was held at Karimanzira’s offices in Harare and minutes show that together with Sports minister, the fawning Zanu (PF) official told delegates that “we plan to construct new stadiums in Chitungwiza, Mutare, Beitbridge, Masvingo and Victoria Falls”.
“Zimbabwe will host some group games in addition to having teams such as Brazil camp here and flying out on match days to South Africa,” the meeting heard.
Observers have dismissed the claims as ridiculous, saying “some members of the regime are highly misinformed and in some dreamland”.
Minister of education and sport, Aeneas Chigwedere, together with permanent secretaries in government ministries are understood to have created their own “Ministerial Taskforce” on the 2010 World Cup.
Antagonism already exists as this comes on top of other meetings and illusionary deliberations by spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. The Zimbabwe Football Association is also claiming to be the main local body to spearhead the preparations by virtue of being the country’s soccer governing body. “It is already a chaotic situation because almost everyone who possibly can is trying to get involved and there is a tussle for the right to be considered as the principal leaders in the preparations,” a government source told this paper after attending one of the meetings last week.
Meanwhile, the soccer world governing body, FIFA, is still deliberating on whether or not South Africa would be allowed to enlist the involvement of its neighbours in hosting teams en-route to the finals. Zimbabwe’s political and economic mayhem is the single poses a huge challenge. Negative indicators in every aspect of social and economic management make it a sick joke for Zimbabwe to talk of constructing new stadiums or hosting teams without bringing shame to the prestigious event, say the observers.