The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
RUSAPE Town Council has finally let got its hold on derelict sporting infrastructure in the town after leasing out Makoni Country Club and Makoni Swimming Bath to private players in a move that is expected to bolster sports development.
Makoni Country Club closed its doors nearly two decades ago, while the swimming pool was last functional in the early 1990s.
Council last week awarded the lease for Makoni Country Club house and sports fields to prominent businessman and sport personality, Tafara Evans Chidawanyika.
Council did not invite bid for the golf course as stated that there are separate plans to revamp it.
Norman Mugomba was allocated the swimming pool.
Acting town secretary, Togarepi Nerwande, said leasing of the facilities was the best option to resuscitate the crumbling facilities as the local authority is resource constrained to revamp them.
He added that although the new tenants will operate on profit basis, council will make sure that reasonable fees are charged for access to sports amenities by residents.
“We have finally leased Makoni Country Club and the swimming pool. The golf course has not been leased yet as we are finalising something. Council at the moment does not have extra resources to run these facilities and in fact, Makoni Country Club was over the years been run by private players on membership basis. Due diligence was done and we are sure that we selected the right people for these two facilities,” he said.
Chidawanyika, who has interests in hospitality, leisure and retail industries also has a rich sporting history which was, however, cut short by his involvement in business at a tender age, said he is ready for the daunting task of resuscitating the once prestigious club and take it to its former glory.
The club requires an excess of US$50 000 cash injection for it to retain to its fine glory and he said he is prepared for the task.
He has already engaged professionals to design the fields and maintain the club house.
“It has been a great priviledged to be announced the winner of the lease. We have bigger plans for this place because it us the people of Rusape who will play a part in its development. I am a sport person as I majored in athletics and rugby at school where I did extremely well to the extent that I was on a sports scholarship at Hillcrest College.
“We have many years in business and we have the financial capabilities to resuscitate this club. There is a lot work that need to be done here such as standardizing all pitches and courts.
The club house is dilapidated and areas such as the roof, changing rooms and security features need attention. It will not be a stroll in the park, but we will do it.
“If all goes according to plan, some sections will be functional by December this year. We are still at consultation stages with professionals. We want the club to be the same as those in big cities and the region,” said Chidawanyika.
Mugomba said he is equal to the task and repair work on the Central Business District located swimming bath has commenced.
“A lot of youngsters are drowning in Rusape River and dam because there is no public swimming pool for them. A swimming pool is a key sport and recreational facility in communities’ the world over. We will mix swimming and other leisure activities here for the project to be sustainable.
“Schools will be the major beneficiaries as we will sponsor competitions for them and maybe a new Kirsty Coventry will be born here,” he said.
