The Zimbabwean this week established that the majority of construction projects, especially being spearheaded by the Zanu (PF) regime have stalled. This comes at a time there is growing concern at FIFA and in SA over the real danger that the Zimbabwean crisis poses to the staging of the World Cup.
Zimbabwe, together with the other neighbours of SA, is expected to play a major role in hosting participants and visiting fans for the event, as SA has already said it cannot cope.
Last week we reported that FIFA was keeping an eye and ear on Zimbabwe whilst also keeping Australia on standby in the event a decision is taken to move the tournament from SA.
This paper can reveal that there has not been any progress by various government committees and task forces that scrambled to be identified as the planners of Zimbabwe’s preparations for the soccer extravaganza. Last year there was a stampede involving government ministers as well as other officials aligned to the Zanu (PF) regime forming rival outfits for the preparations.
One such outfit was a cabinet taskforce headed by Education, Sports and Culture minister Aenias Chigwedere. He admitted this week “there has not been much because of a number of reasons including resources but we are working on embarking on major projects soon”.
Save for the installation of an artificial turf at Rufaro Stadium using a FIFA grant and refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium, which is way behind schedule, the rest of the projects are still pipe dreams.
“There is nothing yet regarding the construction of stadiums in Victoria Falls, Masvingo and Beitbridge,” a government source said. “I seriously doubt if at all there is a budget for that. The same applies for construction or refurbishment of hotel and tourism facilities planned by the government.”
Another outfit comprising tourism players and the Zimbabwe Football Association has also not managed to do much and mainly because of the same problems associated with lack of building materials as well as high costs.
Zimbabwe only has three stadiums Rufaro, Nationals Sports Stadium and Barbourfields in Bulawayo that can attract teams for training but which of late have been left to dilapidate. The decade of economic recession has also seen a rapid decline in the standard and number of internationally acceptable hotel and tourism facilities. Â
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