The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE City Council has reportedly stopped businessman and politician Isau Mupfumi from going ahead with a short term plan to resuscitate the turf at Sakubva Stadium that was meant to allow football fans to watch the ongoing Castle Lager Premiership matches.
In its last week’s Special Council Meeting, City of Mutare councillors tabled Mupfumi’s proposal to refurbish the lawn at Sakubva Stadium and decided that the Mutare businessman be stopped from implementing his plan.
Instead, the city fathers argued that Mupfumi’s contribution can only be welcome as part of a wholesome council long term project that will be rolled out by a contractor.
In an emotive meeting held at the Town Clerk’s office on Tuesday afternoon and chaired by the Acting Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka, it was announced that Mupfumi can only chip in by contributing to the wholesome renovations that will be rolled out by council.
The meeting was attended by football club representatives, football fans’ representatives, Mupfumi’s representatives and the media.
“It was decided that Mupfumi can only come in by way of contributing to the wholesome long term renovations that will be rolled out by council.
“After the tendering processes failed for three times in the past, council had to take the direct procurement route where it has identified and agreed with a service provider to install a new turf at Sakubva Stadium.
“I will be meeting the representatives of the company identified this afternoon to seal the deal and the cost is more of less what council had budgeted for in terms of the Sakubva Stadium turf installation,” said Chafesuka.
Maverick football administrator, Cecilia Gambe passionately pleaded with the local authority not to play politics over an issue that is affecting the growth of sport in the city of Mutare in particular and Manicaland at large.
“I think we are being taken for a ride here. How can council argue that they have now identified a service provider for the turf when Mupfumi has come in to help us?
“Where were you all along? How come Mupfumi cannot be allowed to refurbish the turf and let football be played as a short term measure as council makes its long term plans. Your plans are a fallacy anyway given the financial burden that this local authority is facing. Why are we politicising an issue of development?
“For some of us who have seen lives being transformed because of football in Sakubva, when we talk of the likes of Willard Katsande, Onsimo Bhasera and many more, it hurts us to see this kind of attitude,” fumed Gambe.
Tizai Sithole, whose company’s tenders to refurbish the Sakubva Stadium turf has been rejected by council on two occasions, also made his contribution.
“I do not think it is proper not to allow the short term renovations to go ahead. You cannot install the lawn in the upcoming cold weather and therefore the short term renovations should be done now so that people can enjoy football. After that we can close the facility in summer for the long term installation of the new turf,” he said.
According to a cursory Google search, laying lawn in cooler weather is generally for aesthetic purposes, as the lawn will remain dormant until summer and typically will not establish fully until then.
Google further states that any damage that occurs whilst it is establishing will not repair itself until summer time.
Chafesuka then closed the meeting by announcing that he will report on the issues raised to his superiors and would revert, at maximum, after two weeks when another Special Council Meeting sits.
Sakubva Stadium was banned from hosting Castle Lager Premiership matches since the start of the season owing to the state of the turf.
The only Premiership team in Mutare – Manica Diamonds – have been playing their home matches far away from home at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle.
